Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

1. Since both these appeals arise from the same judgment dated 02.02.2024 passed in Special Criminal Case (NDPS Act) No. H-18/2022 by the learned trial Court, they are being decided by this common judgment.

2. The present appeals have been filed by the appellants under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “Cr.P.C.”) against the impugned judgment of conviction and sentence dated 02.02.2024, passed by the Special Judge (NDPS Act), Mahasamund (C.G.), in Special Criminal Case (NDPS Act) No. H-18/2022, whereby the appellants have been convicted for the offence under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as “the NDPS Act”) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 20 years with a fine of Rs. 2,00,000/-; in default of payment of the fine, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for 1 year.

3. Brief facts of the case are that on 08.01.2022, when Shiv Kumar Prasad PW-12 ASI of police, posted at Police Station Komakhan, was in patrolling along with the other police staff. When they reached near village Patrapali, they received secret info