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2011 Supreme(SC) 693
2011 (5) Supreme 84
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
V.S. Sirpurkar and T.S.Thakur, JJ.
Nikku Khan @ Mohammadeen — Appellant(s)
versus
State of Haryana — Respondent(s)
Criminal Appeal No. 925 of 2007
Decided on : 21-07-2011
IMPORTANT POINT
Where quantity of heroin recovered from appellant was less than the commercial quantity as prescribed under the Act, accused was held liable to be convicted under Section 21(b) and not under Section 21(c) of Narcotic Drugs and Phychotropic Substance Act, 1985.
Headnote:Narcotic Drugs and Phychotropic Substance Act, 1985- Section 21 - Recovery of heroin weighing 740 grams from appellant-Conviction by Courts below-Appeal against conviction-No dispute regarding recovery of contraband from accused on relevant date- The prosecution had been able to prove that accused was in possession of the contraband which was recovered from his person- It was also proved that contraband was heroin-Hence no interference called for with the conviction awarded by trial court and affirmed by High Court-However since quantity of heroin recovered from appellant was less than the commercial quantity as prescribed under the Act, accused was held liable to be convicted under Section 21(b) and not under Section 21(c) of the Act - Sentence of accused reduced from rigorous imprisonment for twelve years to ten years-Appeal disposed off (Paras 7 to 10)
Facts of the Case :
Present appeal has been filed against conviction of appellant under section 21 of Narcotic Drugs and Phychotropic Substance Act, 1985.
Findings of the Court :
The prosecution had been able to prove that accused was in possession of the contraband which was recovered from his person. It was also proved that contraband was heroin.Hence no interference was called for with the conviction awarded by trial court and affirmed by High Court.However since quantity of heroin recovered from appellant was less than the commercial quantity as prescribed under the Act, accused was held liable to be convicted under Section 21(b) and not under Section 21(c) of the Act . Sentence of accused was reduced from rigorous imprisonment for twelve years to ten years.Appeal was disposed of.
JUDGMENT
Sirpurkar, J. —
1. Appellant Nikku Khan @ Mohammadeen, who has been convicted by both the courts below for the offence punishable under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Phychotropic Substance Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for twelve years and to pay a fine of Rs. one lakh, in default of payment of fine to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years, is before us in this appeal.
2. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 1.6.2003 at 12.30 p.m., ASI Gopi Chand along with other police officials was on patrol duty at Nohar road, Ellenabad when he received a secret information that the accused-appellant, who was indulged in a trade of smack, was likely to arrive in a Maruti Car and narcotic could be recovered from him. On receipt of this information, ASI, Gopi Chand issued notice under Section 41 of the Act and sent the same to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ellenabad. Thereafter, he held a picket at Nohar Road. When the accused arrived in Maruti Case bearing No. DAJ 4223 he was stopped and after serving a notice under Section 50 of the Act, he was searched in presence of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ellenabad and heroin weighing 740 grams was recovered from his person.
3. After completion of investigation the accused was sent for trial and both the trial court as well as the High Court have held that the accused was found in possession of 740 grams of heroin.
4. We have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the evidence as well as the judgments of the courts below.
5. We do not think that there is anything to dispute regarding the recovery of contraband from the accused on the relevant date. The prosecution has been able to prove that the accused was in possession of the contraband which was recovered from his person. It is also proved that the contraband was heroin.
6. We do not wish to interfere with the conviction awarded by the trial court and affirmed by the High Court. However, insofar as the sentence is concerned, Mr. R.K. Kapoor, learned counsel appearing for the appellant states that the percentage of the concentration was 16.93%. Mr. Kapoor, therefore, points out that the quantity of heroin recovered from the accused virtually comes to 125 grams.
7. We have seen the Notification specifying small quantity and commercial quantity under Section 2 of the Act wherein at serial No. 56, the commercial quantity of heroin is prescribed as 250 grams. Therefore, it is clear that the quantity of heroin which was recovered from the appellant was less than the commercial quantity as prescribed under the Act.
8. In that view, the law laid in E.Micheal Raj Vs. Intelligence Office, Narcotic Control Bureau1 2008 (5) SCC 161 shall apply to the present case. We, therefore, hold that the accused is liable to be convicted under Section 21(b) and not under Section 21(c) of the Act as, on the relevant date, he was found in possession of 125 grams of heroin which is less than the commercial quantity as prescribed under the Act. The maximum punishment prescribed for the offence under Section 21(b) of the Act is rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.
9. Keeping in view the facts and the circumstances of the present case, while affirming the impugned judgment passed by the High Court insofar as conviction of the appellant is concerned, we convert the conviction of the appellant from Section 21(c) to 21(b) of the Act and reduce the sentence of the accused from rigorous imprisonment for twelve years to ten years. The sentence of fine and default shall remain unaltered.
10. The appeal stands disposed of accordingly.
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