A.N.JINDAL, J.-

1. Shashi Atwal and Surender Singh, both Assistant Sub Inspectors of the Punjab Police were prosecuted for allegedly having been found in possession of two bags of poppy husk. Consequently, they were convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay fine of Rs.one lac, each.

The allegations, which emerge from the prosecution case are that on 8.7.2000, Inspector Balwinder Singh along with other police officials, including Sub-Inspector Janak Singh (not examined), in-charge of Police Post Civil Lines, Bathinda was holding `nakabandhi' i.e, picket at Bus Stand Fauzi Chowk, Bathinda, where, Sub-Inspector Janak Singh received a secret information to the effect that ASI Surender Singh, working as Cashier in Police Lines, Bathinda was storing poppy husk in a rented house (of Kaur Singh) at Bibiwala Road and he used to bring the poppy husk from outside and sell the same to the customers and he could be apprehended red-handed. On the basis of the aforesaid secret information, Inspector Balwinder Singh sent ruqa (Ex.PB) through C.Tarsem Singh, on the basis of which formal First Information Report (Ex.PB/1) was registered at Police Statio