Man jailed for 10 yrs, fined Rs one lakh for possessing charas

The court convicted Delhi-based Sanjay Mandal under the provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act observing that he was involved in various other criminal cases and had also lodged false complaints against police officials.

Besides the jail term, the court also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on 33-year-old Mandal.

"The convict (Mandal) stands convicted for the offence punishable under the NDPS Act for (possessing) commercial quantity (of charas).

"Keeping in view the facts of the case and background of the convict, I sentence him to rigorous imprisonment for ten years and fine of Rs one lakh," Additional Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna said.

According to police, Mandal was arrested at Sadar Bazar here in August last year and was found in possession of 2.2 kgs of charas.

It said some policemen had gone to arrest Mandal, against whom a non-bailable warrant was issued for his alleged role in a case under the Arms Act, and on searching him he was found to be carrying a polythene containing 2.2 kgs charas.

During the trial, Mandal claimed innocence saying police officials had planted the contraband on him as he had lodged a a complaint against certain officials for demanding a "weekly amount" from him.

The court, however, convicted him saying that he had not brought any evidence before it to substantiate his claim and, "it is improbable that police could plant such a huge quantity of contraband upon him merely for taking revenge".