A special court in Ludhiana has sentenced a drug peddler to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him for the possession of 432 grams of heroin. Special Judge Saru Mehta Kaushik also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the convict, identified as Rohit, a resident of Mohalla Peeru Banda. In case of default in payment of the fine, the convict will have to undergo an additional two years of rigorous imprisonment.
Case Background
The case dates back to May 30, 2022, when the Special Task Force (STF) police station in SAS Nagar registered a case against Rohit under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Acting on a secret tip-off regarding a habitual drug supplier, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Jagtar Singh set up a barricade near a public school in Sandhu Nagar to intercept the suspect.
Recovery of Heroin
During the checkpoint checking, the police intercepted a Verna car driven by Rohit. In the presence of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajay Kumar, who was called to the spot by the investigating officer, officials searched the vehicle and recovered a black polybag from the dashboard containing 432 grams of heroin. Following a thorough investigation, the police filed a chargesheet against the accused, leading to the court trial.
Defense Arguments Dismissed
During the trial, Rohit pleaded false implication. His defense counsel raised two primary arguments, both of which were dismissed by the court. Regarding the vehicle used in the crime, the defense argued that Rohit did not own the vehicle and had no connection to it. However, the court noted from Rohit’s own statements that the car belonged to his mother, Jasvir, thereby establishing a clear connection.
The defense also contended that the prosecution’s case was doubtful because no public witnesses joined the investigation. Addressing the lack of independent witnesses, the court noted that despite the investigating officer’s efforts, no members of the public agreed to join. The judge cited a Supreme Court ruling clarifying that search and seizure evidence is not invalidated simply by the absence of independent witnesses.
Court's Verdict
The court concluded that because the detailed cross-examinations of the police officials and the gazetted officer revealed no malice or contradictions, their testimonies were entirely credible, leaving no grounds for an acquittal. Consequently, the court sentenced Rohit to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh.
