Drug Peddlers Sentenced To 20 Years RI By Bhubaneswar Court

Bhubaneswar: Two people accused in drug peddling case were convicted by Additional Judge-cum-Special Judge, Bhubaneswar on Friday and sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment.

The duo, Dipak Kumar Nayak alias Raza of Kaliapani in Odisha’s Jajpur district and Shyam Behera of Forest Park area in Bhubaneswar were convicted under Sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act in a case filed by Special Task Force of Odisha police in September, 2022.

They were also fined Rs 1 lakh each in default of which the two will undergo RI for another one year, the court verdict stated.

Raza and Shyam were apprehended by the STF in Sundarpada area of Bhubaneswar while they were transporting brown sugar/heroin in a car. During search 1.050 kg brown sugar was recovered from the car and sent to State Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical examination.

The Scientific Officer of SFSL, Rasulgarh opined that the drugs are of Diacetylmorphine (chemical name of heroin). After successful investigation, charge sheet was submitted against the accused, the STF stated.

“During trial the prosecution has examined 10 witnesses and furnished 23 relevant documents. The seized contraband was already destroyed as per orders of the Court,” the STF stated further.

In NDPS cases, 20 years is the maximum punishment. This is the second drug case in Odisha where the accused persons were convicted 20 years imprisonment under NDPS Act, 1985.

On 9th May 2024, maximum punishment of 20 years were awarded to the accused in an NDPS case registered by the STF.