Panchkula woman gets 15-year RI in drugs case, fined Rs1.50 lakh

Chandigarh, February 17

Additional Sessions Judge Jaibir Singh has sentenced a woman, Manju (32), a resident of Indira Colony, Sector 16, Panchkula, to undergo 15 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) after convicting her under Section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs1.50 lakh on the convict.

The court convicted the woman within 11 months of her arrest in the case. The police had arrested Manju near the cremation ground in Mauli village, Chandigarh, on March 15, 2021.

The police said the woman was coming from the Vikas Nagar light point side. After noticing the police team, the woman, who was holding a packet in her hand, tried to flee from the spot. She also tried to throw away the packet. The police, however, seized the packet.

The police said 35 pheniramine injections IP 10 ml each, 25 buprenorphine injections IP 2 ml each and 60 capsules of bicyclomine hydrochloride taramadol were recovered from the packet.

The police claimed that the accused failed to produce any valid permit or licence for psychotropic substances recovered from her.

After investigation, the police presented a chargesheet against the accused in the court. Charges were framed against the accused to which she pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

The counsel for the accused claimed that the accused was falsely implicated in the case. Additional public prosecutor Hukam Singh argued that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond the shadow of doubt. The prosecution examined 11 witnesses in the case.

After hearing the arguments, the court said the prosecution had been able to bring home the charge against the accused regarding unauthorised possession of the packet containing 35 pheniramine injections, 25 buprenorphine injections and 60 capsules of bicyclomine hydrochloride taramadol. The court sentenced the accused to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs1.50 lakh on her.

If the accused failed to pay the fine, she would have to undergo additional three years in prison, the court said.