IPS officer gets 13-year jail term for pilfering seized drug

A local court today sentenced a suspended IPS officer to 13 years in prison for pilfering seized contraband while he was posted as Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau in the city.

1995-cadre IPS officer Saji Mohan was booked in 2009, along with four others, for pilfering heroin from around 13 unclaimed seizures lying in the storeroom of NCB headquarters in Sector 2 here.

The quantum of sentence was pronounced today after the Special court of Justice Shalini Singh Nagpal had held them guilty on Friday.

Mohan was held guilty under sections 21 (c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

According to the prosecution lawyer, Kailash Chand, the statement of over 20 witnesses was recorded and their cross examination was done in the case.

Mumbai's Anti-Terrorism squad had first booked Mohan after he was allegedly caught with 12 kg heroin, following which NCB Chandigarh launched its own investigations, under which Mohan was later accused of pilfering and manipulating the contraband seized from different places in Punjab and Jammu.

Arguments were completed in the case on last hearings on March 5, 6 and 7.

Three others -- NCB official Balwinder, a drug peddler Naseeb Chand and Mohan's personal security officer Naveen Kumar were also sentenced by the court today.

Balwinder was awarded 13-year jail term and was fined Rs3 lakh, while Chand was handed over a 10-year jail term.

Kumar was sentenced to six months in jail.

A police constable Davinder Pal Singh was acquitted of all charges.