Man gets 10 yr jail, to pay Rs 1 L fine for possessing heroin

A 36-year-old man has been sent to ten years in jail for possessing 1.5 kg heroin by a Delhi court, which relied on the testimony of police officials.
Special NDPS Judge Rakesh Kumar-I handed down the jail term to Delhi resident Om Prakash taking into consideration the quantity of the contraband substance recovered and his young age and also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on him.
"The testimony of prosecution witnesses in this case inspires confidence and they cannot be discredited only on the ground of their official status," the judge said, adding that non joining of public witnesses is not fatal to the case.

"It is not uncommon that public is reluctant to join as witnesses in criminal cases as they do not want to indulge in hectic police and court proceedings. The non joining of public witnesses is not fatal to the case..." the judge said, while holding Prakash guilty of offences under sections of Narcotics the accused Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to prosecution, on June 12, 2013 Narcotics Cell apprehended the accused after receiving a secret information.
A raid was conducted by the police officials near Moti Nagar here and Om Prakash was arrested with a bag in which he carried 1.5 kg heroin, it said.

During the trial, Prakash, who has been in custody since June 12, 2013, claimed he was falsely implicated.
This claim was rejected by the court, saying the defence taken by him was improbable.
Seeking leniency from the court, the convict had submitted that he had a physically disabled mother and a six-year old daughter to look after.