A special court in Ahmedabad has delivered its verdict in a narcotics case, sentencing two individuals to rigorous imprisonment for possessing the banned substance mephedrone. The court pronounced the sentences on Thursday, marking the conclusion of a case that dates back to August 2022.
Sentences and Fines for Drug Possession
The special judge, V B Rajput, sentenced Aminabanu Pathan, also known as Don, to five years in prison. Her co-accused, Samiruddin Shaikh alias Bond, received a four-year prison term. In addition to the jail sentences, the court imposed significant financial penalties. Pathan was ordered to pay a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh, while Shaikh must pay Rs 1 lakh.
While deciding the quantum of punishment, Judge Rajput considered several factors, including the intermediate quantity of the contraband recovered and the financial and social conditions of the convicts. The total amount of mephedrone seized in the case was a little over 31 grams.
Details of the Crime and a Repeat Offender
The case stems from a police raid in the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad in August 2022. According to the prosecution, the accused were allegedly engaged in selling drugs when a police team conducted the raid and apprehended them. Upon search, authorities recovered a little over 15 grams of mephedrone from Aminabanu Pathan's possession. Approximately 16 grams of the same drug was found with Samiruddin Shaikh.
This conviction holds particular significance for Aminabanu Pathan, as it is her second under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Additional Public Prosecutor D M Thakor informed the court that a local court had previously sentenced her to 10 years in prison in a 2007 case.
Two Accused Acquitted Due to Lack of Evidence
The court's judgment also brought relief for two other individuals named in the case. Shahid Shaikh and Ashfaqnoor Pathan were acquitted by the special court for want of evidence. The prosecution could not present sufficient proof to secure their conviction. It was noted that these two accused were arrested at a later stage during the investigation of the case.
The verdict underscores the continued crackdown on drug-related activities in the city under the NDPS Act. The law mandates severe punishments, especially for repeat offenders and those involved with commercial quantities of banned substances.
