A man was today sent to 10 years in jail by a court here for possessing and transporting nearly eight kg of heroin with the judge observing that in such cases main drug peddlers go scot-free and the conduit used by them "who are invariably poor people get caught".
Special NDPS Judge A K Kuhar awarded the imprisonment to Gurjant Singh, a resident of Punjab, for possessing 7.8 kg of heroin, which was a commercial quantity and also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on him.
"It is generally noticed that in such cases, the main drug peddlers go scot free and the conduit used by such peddlers, who are invariably poor people, get caught.
"The harsh punishment provided for offence under NDPS Act is an indication that offences are to be considered very serious in nature but while awarding sentence, the court has also to keep in mind if there is any chance of reformation of the convict," the court said.
The court acquitted co-accused Kailash Chand in the case saying he cannot be connected with any criminal conspiracy to possess or transport the contraband substance.
According to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, they got an information on June 26, 2009, that a car carrying narcotic drugs would be coming from Punjab to Delhi in the evening and the substance transferred to another vehicle at Alipur here and subsequently exported.
A team was formed and the two persons were caught while they were transferring drugs from the car to the tempo. While car occupant Gurjant and Kailash, who was sitting in the tempo, were apprehended by the raiding team, two other accused managed to flee.
During search of the tempo, 14 packets of drugs were found in the carton and they were seized.
During the trial, Gurjant claimed that he was innocent and the heroin was planted on him.
The convict sought leniency in sentence saying he was the sole bread-earner in the family and has to support two children.
