ANANTHAKUMAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals have been filed to set aside the conviction and sentence passed by the 1st Additional Special Court for NDPS Act cases, Madurai, in C.C.No.155 of 2020 dtd. 29/8/2022.

(2.) Since the appellants in all the appeals were arrayed as accused No. 2 to 4 in the same crime number, these appeals are taken up together for hearing and disposed by way of this common judgment.

(3.) The appellants and other two accused are said to have committed offence under Ss. 8(C) r/w 20(b)(ii)(c), of Narcotic Drug Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, (hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, referred to as "NDPS Act"). On 15/2/2020, at 05.00 a.m., when the appellants and other accused illegally transported 168 Kg., of Ganja in the car bearing registration No.TN-09-BW-5591, they were intercepted by the respondent police and made a search in the car. After the search, the said larger quantity of ganja was recovered as per the procedure stated in the NDPS Act. Thereafter, FIR was registered for the above alleged offence. Thereafter, they were produced before the Court along with the contraband and they were remanded to juridical custody. After completion of investigation, they filed final report in Crime No.13 of 2020 against the appellants and other accused for the offences punishable under Ss. 8(c) r/w 20 (b) (ii) (c), 27 A, 29(1) and 25 of NDPS Act. After receipt of the final report, the learned trial Judge had taken cognizance in C.C.No. 115 of 2020, on the file of the 1st Additional Special Court for NDPS Act cases, Madurai.