Youth carrying 17 kgs of poppy straw sentenced to 2yrs in jail

While convicting 21-year-old Madhya Pradesh (MP) native Sallu under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on him.

The court convicted Sallu under section 15 of NDPS Act saying the prosecution has been able to establish his guilt.

"The convict (Sallu) stands convicted for the conscious possession of intermediate quantity (17 kg) of poppy straw.

"Keeping in view his age and clean antecedents I sentence convict Sallu to rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs 15,000 under section 15 NDPS Act...," the court said.

The Delhi police sleuths had arrested Sallu in February 2012 at Kashmiri Gate ISBT here, after suspecting him of carrying some contraband in his bag.

The accused Sallu himself had disclosed that there was poppy straw in the bag for sale," the prosecution had said.

Seeking leniency for the convict, his counsel told the court that Sallu is only 21 years old and is the sole bread winner for his family comprising his wife, two daughters and aged parents.

The court, however, said that the accused was convicted for carrying "commercial quantity of contraband".

"The prosecution witnesses have remained credible and trustworthy and no discrepancy has emerged from their testimony so as to disbelieve or discard the prosecution version," the court said, while sentencing Sallu.