JUDGMENT:

The appellant/accused was convicted by the lower Court under Section 20(b)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (in short, the Act) and was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of three years and fine of Rs.2,000/-. Questioning the same, the accused filed this appeal. It is alleged that the accused cultivated land in S.No.19/39 of Ippalapally village with cotton crop and in the midst of cotton crop, he raised 30,000 ganja plants illegally and that during raid by the Police officials along with the revenue officials, it was detected on 30.11.1999. Plea of the accused is one of total denial and not guilty. After trial, the lower Court found the accused guilty of the charge.

2. It is contended by the appellant’s counsel that there is no proper proof of the accused raising ganja in that land and that the prosecution failed to examine pattadar of the land to show that the land was in possession of the accused and that there were no independent mediators for the panchanama prepared by the Police and that the Police did not follow mandatory provisions of the Act in this case.

3. PW6 is the Sub Divisional Police Officer, NagarKurnool Sub-Division, who headed