COMMON JUDGEMENT

Since these criminal appeals are arising out of the same crime, these appeals are taken up for hearing together and disposed of by way of this common judgment.

2.The appellants are said `to have committed the offences under Sections 8 (c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 and 29(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as 'the NDPS Act') for the alleged possession of 52 kg of Ganja. The learned Principal Special Court for EC and NDPS Act Cases, Madurai convicted the appellants in C.C.No.383 of 2021 under Sections 8 (c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C), 25 and 29(1) of NDPS Act, 1985 by its judgment dated 02.02.2023 and sentenced them to undergo 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.1,00,000/- each, in default to undergo 6 months Simple Imprisonment each. Challenging the same, the appellants have filed these criminal appeals.

3.Brief facts necessary for disposal of this appeal, are as follows:

3.1. According to the prosecution, P.W.4 received secret information on 20.01.2021 at about 11.45 hours regarding the illegal transport of a huge quantity of ganja. He reduced the information into writing and submitted it to his higher official.