Drug trafficking: Two sentenced to 10-year jail in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana: A special court has sentenced two men to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after they were found in "conscious possession" of a commercial quantity of illegal intoxicant capsules.Judge Gurpreet Kaur also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of rigorous imprisonment for both men. The case dates back to June 19, 2021, when Ludhiana's Kotwali police acted on a tip-off regarding a Mahindra Tempo parked near the Old Kotwali building.
The prosecution said the suspects — Kamaljyoti, of Dholewal, and Jaspal Singh, of Shimlapuri — had been identified as habitual traffickers. Police seized a bag containing almost 340 g Tramadol salt — a regulated opioid— concealed near the vehicle's gearbox. Both men were apprehended on-site under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.Defense Challenges Witness CredibilityDuring the trial, defense counsels argued for acquittal, pointing out that the prosecution relied solely on the testimony of police officers. They contended that the lack of independent "civilian" witnesses suggested the contraband may have been planted.The court, however, dismissed these claims, noting the common reluctance of the public to involve themselves in criminal proceedings. "There is no legal proposition that evidence of official witnesses, unless supported by an independent witness, is unworthy of acceptance," the court held.Verdict: ‘Link Evidence' CompleteIn her judgment, Dr. Kaur noted that the defendants failed to provide any evidence of a prior grudge or "enmity" with the arresting officers that would motivate a false implication. The court described it as "highly improbable" that police would procure and plant such a large commercial quantity of drugs without cause. Finding the "link evidence" against Kamaljyoti and Singh to be complete, the court ordered the maximum standard sentence to deter future trafficking in the region.