JUDGMENT :

M.R. SHAH, J.

1. Having heard the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant and the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the State, the delay caused in preferring the appeal is condoned.

1.1 Leave granted.

2. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 16.03.2016 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Bench at Aurangabad in Criminal Appeal No. 357 of 2015, by which the High Court has dismissed the said appeal preferred by the appellant-original accused and has confirmed the judgment and order of conviction passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Kopargaon, convicting the appellant-original accused for the offences punishable under Section 8(c) and 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NDPS Act’) and sentencing him to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh), the original accused no. 1 has preferred the present appeal.

2.1 At the outset, it is required to be noted that by order dated 13.10.2020 notice limited to the quantum of sentence has been issued by this Court.

3. Learned Advocate appearing on behalf