French national spared jail term due to dad's ailment

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) M K Nagpal showed leniency to France native Jeremy Grasset, considering that he had to take care of his ailing father and new-born baby.

The court convicted Grasset under provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after he pleaded guilty but did not award him any sentence of imprisonment, also considering his age and family background.

Thirty one-year-old Grasset had to take care of his father who is suffering from cancer in his native country and his new-born baby who is less than a month old.

Grasset had pleaded guilty in the case requesting for a lenient view saying his family condition is not good and promised that he would not commit any offence again.

"Hence, keeping in view the age, family background and the other facts and circumstances of the case, the accused is not being awarded any sentence of imprisonment and is being sentenced to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 only for the offence under the provisions of the NDPS Act," the court said.

According to the prosecution, Grasset and co-accused Abhay Chand Gupta, who had not pleaded guilty and is facing separate trial, were caught in front of Delhi Haat, INA here, possessing charas without any licence.

Grasset, who has been living here for the last six years and is running a business, was caught after he had purchased 20 gms of charas for Rs 1,000 from Gupta in March this year.

The police had received an information that Gupta would be coming to INA to supply the contraband to Grasset.

"Co-accused Gupta was a supplier of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to be consumed in rave and disco parties by the young generation," the prosecution had said.