Man accused of possessing narcotic powder acquitted after five years

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 4

A local court has acquitted a person, who was arrested on a charge of possessing narcotic powder on September 12, 2013. The court said the evidence against him was not complete and it gave him the benefit of doubt.

The police had claimed that two persons — Pankaj Kumar and Manjit Singh — were arrested near Khandwala with a commercial quantity of narcotic powder. Later during the proceedings of case, Pankaj Kumar was declared a proclaimed offender after being failed to appear in the court.

The court observed “the recovery is alleged to have been effected at a barricade of the police on a highway. It stated that as such, the police could have easily joined in some independent witnesses, but there is no explanation for this lapse on the part of the investigating officer”.

The court also doubted the police theory on various points, said Ravi Raj Brinder Singh, legal counsel for acquitted Manjit Singh. He said the family had been maintaining that he was picked up from home and not the barricade as claimed by the police.

The court stated that the punishment under provisions of the NDPS Act was stringent. It also added that safe guards, which have been prescribed and encapsulated in it, require a strict adherence and the prosecution has to prove such an offence by leading cogent and convincing the evidence, which ruled out the doubts of grave nature.

Court gives the benefit of doubt

• The court said the evidence against Manjit Singh was not complete and it gave him the benefit of the doubt.
• The police had claimed that two persons - Pankaj Kumar and Manjit Singh - were arrested near Khandwala with a commercial quantity of narcotic powder.