203.
(HP HC) 13-12-2023
A. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985), Section 15 -- NDPS Case – Appeal against acquittal -- Recovery of 15 Kg 600 grams of poppy straw – Independent witness -- Material contradictions in the statements of the police officials regarding setting up of ‘naka’, chasing of the vehicle of the respondents and arrest -- These contradictions assume greater importance and significance when no independent witnesses, though available, have been associated at the time of the alleged recovery -- Appeal dismissed.
(Para 26-29, 37)
B. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985), Section 15 -- NDPS Case – Appeal against acquittal -- Recovery of 15 Kg 600 grams of poppy straw – Accused fled away -- If the respondents had fled away from the spot where ‘naka’ had been laid, then Court see no reason why the police party should not have chased the vehicle of the respondents till the time they were not actually apprehended and why the police party simply stopped, where respondent No.2 is alleged to have thrown jute sack containing poppy straw -- Every reasonable police personnel would have continued chasing the respondents until apprehended – It makes the entire prosecution case unreliable and highly doubtful -- Appeal dismissed.
(Para 29, 37)
C. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985), Section 15 -- NDPS Case – Appeal against acquittal -- Recovery of 15 Kg 600 grams of poppy straw – Facsimile of seal -- Exhibit PX is the report of the Laboratory wherein it is mentioned that the seals on the gunny bag parcel were tallied with the seal impression sent by the SHO on form NCB-1 i.e. Ext. PW16/A -- However, a perusal of Ext. PW16/A shows that facsimile of seal ‘A’ affixed on this form is not at all clear or legible -- This assumes importance because it has not at all been mentioned in the report that the seals on the gunny bag were compared with the sample seals or the sample seals were deposited in the laboratory along with the case property – Ld. Special Judge rightly observed, it cannot be said with certainty that the case property which was examined in the laboratory was the same which was allegedly recovered from the respondents -- Appeal dismissed.
(Para 32-34, 37)
D. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985), Section 15 -- NDPS Case – Appeal against acquittal -- Recovery of 15 Kg 600 grams of poppy straw – Non-examination of car -- Specific case of the prosecution that some dust of ‘Chura Post’ was lying on the rear seat of the car which car was then taken possession of by the police -- If that be so, then why photographs of the ‘Chura Post’ that was stated to be lying on the rear seat of the car were not taken and, above all, why the so-called dust of ‘Chura Post’ was not sent for chemical analysis, is not at all forthcoming – Held, there is no material on record which may remotely suggest that the respondents had kept the jute bag containing ‘Chura Post’ on the backseat of the car and thereafter had thrown the same, as alleged by the prosecution – Appeal dismissed.
(Para 35-37)