JUDGMENT - P.V. HARDAS, J.:---The appellant has filed the present appeal challenging his conviction and sentence passed by the Special Judge, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Court, Mapusa in Special Criminal Case No. 23 of 1999, sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay fine of Rs. 1 lakh, in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year in respect of an offence punishable under section 20(b)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for the sake of brevity 'N.D.P.S. Act'. On the request of the appellant, this Court, on 14th December, 2000, had appointed Advocate Mr. Ashwin Bhobe from the Legal Aid Scheme to represent the appellant.

2. The brief facts necessary for decision of this appeal are set out hereunder :-

On 24th October, 1999 at 12.00 hours P.W. 4 P.S.I. Uday Naik attached to the Anti Narcotic Cell, Panaji, received a special and reliable information that one person from Kerala named Tommy Thomas, aged about 30 years, medium built, having a beard was selling charas at Tiwaivaddo, Calangute, near the house of one Silveira. P.W. 4 P.S.I. Uday reduced the said information to writing and a copy of the same w

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