Man sentenced to 10-yr RI in NDPS Act case, fined Rs 1L

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 8

A local court has sentenced a person to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs1 lakh on him after convicting him in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act case.

Vikas Garg was arrested on October 10, 2017, near the road separating Sector 61 and 52 in Chandigarh during checking at 9.40 pm. He was carrying a polythene bag which contained 10 injections of Buprenorphine.

According to the prosecution, the accused could not produce any licence or permit for keeping the injections in his possession. Charges in the case were framed on June 5, 2018.

The counsel for the accused denied all charges and argued that the recovery was effected from a public place but the investigating officer failed to produce any independent witness. The defence counsel also argued that there were discrepancies in the statements of the prosecution witnesses.

On the other hand, the prosecution examined the witnesses and placed records and reports to prove its case.

After hearing the arguments, Jagdeep Sood, Judge, Special Court, Chandigarh, said the prosecution had been able to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The accused is held guilty for the offence under Section 22 of the Act and is convicted. Keeping in view of the fact that the quantity of injections of Buprenorphine recovered from the convict, which falls in commercial quantity, the convict is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment under 22 (c) of the NDPS Act for a period of 10 years.

In default of the payment of fine, the convict will undergo RI for another six months.

The period of detention already undergone by the convict during the investigation and trial is ordered to be set off from the substantive sentence imposed upon him.