JUDGMENT (ORAL)

Ashutosh Kumar. J.—We have heard the Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 850 of 2015 (Santosh Kumar); Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 916 of 2015 (Manoj Kumar) and Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1018 of 2015 (Santu Kumar vs. the State of Bihar) together, all of which are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. We have been informed that one more appeal, namely, Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 720 of 2015 (Pawan Kumar) is pending consideration before this Court. The file of the aforesaid criminal appeal has been notified and summoned and the same is also being disposed of by this common judgment.

3. We have heard Mr. Dhirendra Kumar Sinha, the learned Appellant in all the appeals and Ms. Shashi Bala Verma, the learned APP for the State.

4. All the appellants stand charged and convicted under Section 20(B)(II)(C) of the NDPS Act, 1985 and they have been sentenced to undergo R.I. for 12 years, to pay a fine of Rs. One Lakh each and in default of payment of fine, to further suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year separately.

5. The F.I.R., namely, Bihar P.S. Case No. 217 of 2013 dated 16.07.2013 for offences under Section 20, 21 and 22 of the NDPS Act and Section 414 of the Indian Penal