JUDGMENT :

Heard Mr. Lalbiaknunga Hnamte, learned counsel for the appellant along with Mrs. Mary L. Khiangte, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondents.

2. This is an appeal filed under Section 374(2) Cr.P.C against the conviction Order dated 29.11.2021 passed in SR No. 166/2016 arising out of Criminal Trial No. 1434/2017 passed by the Special Judge, ND&PS Act, Aizawl, wherein the appellant on his conviction under Section 21(c) of the ND&PS Act, 1985, was sentenced to undergo 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh, in default Rigorous Imprisonment for another 1 (one) year.

3. The prosecutor story in a nutshell is that on 09.06.2017 at 2:14 PM, the appellant was arrested by the respondent authorities at Muanna Veng, Thlanmual road, Aizawl, while he was riding on his Rodeo Scooty bearing Registration No. MZ-01/M-4630. On conducting search of the Scooty, the excise and narcotics personnel seized 266 grams of Heroin kept in 21 soap cases which was kept in a bag. The appellant was arrested and the involved Scooty vehicle was also seized. Accordingly, Ex-N-92/2017 under Section 21(c) of ND&PS Act, 1985 was registered against the appellant and duly inve