JUDGMENT

S.K. Sahoo, J. - The appellants Rajesh K.R. and Jobby Sonny in CRLA No.602 of 2014 and appellant George K.A. in CRLA No.667 of 2014 faced trial in the Court of learned Special Judge, Gajapati, Parlakhemundi in G.R. Case No.215 of 2011 for offence punishable under section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereafter "N.D.P.S. Act") on the accusation that on 23.06.2011 at about 4.00 p.m., they were found transporting ganja in a private vehicle bearing registration no.KL-07-AA-2097 in front of Parlakhemundi police station in thirty nine big packets and thirty two small packets consisting of 116 kgs. of ganja without any licence.

The learned trial Court vide impugned judgment and order dated 19.09.2014 found the appellants guilty under section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the N.D.P.S. Act and sentenced each of them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of twelve years and to pay a fine of Rs.1,00,000/- (rupees one lakh) each, in default, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for period of one year each.

Since both the appeals arise out of one common judgment, with the consent of learned counsel for both the parties, those were heard analogousl