Delhi high court sentences two men for possessing heroin

Two men have been sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Delhi court for possessing over nine kg of heroin in 2008.

27-year-old Punjab resident Jagroop Singh and 30-year-old Aqil, a native of Bihar, were convicted under various sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by Special Judge M K Nagpal, who also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh each on the convicts.

"As per the evidence brought during the trial, both the convicts (Singh and Aquil) were only acting as carriers of narcotic drugs for some petty monetary considerations, which were to be paid to them after delivery of narcotic drugs. 

They themselves are not alleged to be running any drug racket on their own.

"Hence, keeping in view the age, family background and all other attending circumstances, both the convicts are being awarded minimum sentence of rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years each and a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for the above said offence," the judge said.

The duo were apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials in July 2008 when they received a tip off that the two will be bringing some "narcotic drug" for delivering it to some person at Yamuna Vihar here.

"The gross weight of the nine packets of heroin was found to be 9.170 kg and the net weight of heroin contained therein to be 8.932 kg," the DRI had said.
During the trial, both accused claimed innocence.

The court, however, convicted the two saying, "In view of the above discussion it is held that the evidence led by the prosecution on record is sufficient to prove the charge for the offence punishable under section 21(c) of the NDPS Act only, as framed against both the accused persons, with regard to the possession of the above contraband substance."