Man sentenced to 10 years in jail for possessing drugs

Arrested along with a Pakistani national after being found in possession of the drug, 52-year-old Aligarh resident Mohammad Burhan was convicted under under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by Special Judge M K Nagpal, who also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on him.

Pakistani national Arif Butt, however, had to be declared a proclaimed offender by the court as he jumped the bail and became untraceable.

The court awarded the minimum sentence of 10 years under the NDPS Act to the convict considering that he has now turned totally blind.

"Therefore, keeping in view the age, family background and all the other attending circumstances, the convict (Burhan) is being awarded the minimum sentence of rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years and a fine of Rs one Lakh...," the court said.

Butt, who was apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials along with Burhan after they got down from a UP roadways bus here on August 17, 2007, had not appeared before the court after which proclamation proceedings were initiated against him.

During the proceedings, the court was informed by Butt's surety that he had died and thereafter proceeding against him was abated by the judge but during the arguments on charges in the case, DRI moved an application doubting his death.

This prompted the court to order fresh proceedings against Butt and declare him a proclaimed offender. (More)