Sri G Maruthi v. State of Karnataka

IN,THE,HIGH,COURT,OF,KARNATAKA,AT,BENGALURU, THDATED,THIS,THE,06 ,DAY,OF,MARCH,,2026, BEFORE, THE,HON'BLE,MR.,JUSTICE,G.,BASAVARAJA, CRIMINAL(APPEAL(NO.816(OF(2013( C/W(CRIMINAL(APPEAL(NO.877(OF(2013(&( CRIMINAL(APPEAL(NO.315(OF(2014( ( CRL.A(NO.816(of(2013( BETWEEN, , SRI,G.,MARUTI, S/O,LATE,SINGAIAH, AGED,ABOUT,72,YEARS, R/O,NIMBOLI,ADDA, NEAR,KACHIGUDA,KUMAR,TALKIES, KACHIGUDA,,HYDERABAD,CITY, ANDHRA,PRADESH,STATE,500,027, …APPELLANT, (BY,SRI,AMAR,CORREA,,ADVOCATE), , AND, , STATE,OF,KARNATAKA, BY,MADIKERI,RURAL,POLICE,STATIONI, MADIKERI, REP.,BY,THE,STATE,PUBLIC,PROSECUTOR, HIGH,COURT,OF,KARNATAKA, BANGALORE,–,560,001, …RESPONDENT, (BY,SMT.,N.,ANITHA,GIRISH,,HCGP), , , THIS, CRIMINAL, APPEAL, IS, FILED, UNDER, SECTION, 374(2),OF,CRPC,PRAYING,TO,SET,ASIDE,THE,JUDGMENT, AND, ORDER, DATED, 31.07.2013, PASSED, BY, THE, S.J.,, KODAGU,, MADIKERI, IN, SPL., CASE, (NDPS), NO.4/2007, CONVICTING,THE,APPELLANT/ACCUSED,FOR,THE,OFFENCE, P/U/S/,8(c),AND,20(b)(ii)(C),OF,NDPS,ACT., , CRL.A.(NO.877(of(2013( ( BETWEEN, , SRI,DEVENDRA, S/O,MALLAIAH,@,AIYLAYYA, AGED,ABOUT,33,YEARS, R/O,METUPALLI,VILLAGE, SHANKARA,PATTANAM,MANDALA, KAREEM,NAGAR,DISTRICT, ANDHRA,PRADESH,STATE,505,001, …APPELLANT, (BY,SRI,AMAR,CORREA,,ADVOCATE), , AND, , STATE,OF,KARNATAKA, BY,MADIKERI,RURAL,POLICE,STATIONI, MADIKERI, REP.,BY,THE,STATE,PUBLIC,PROSECUTOR, HIGH,COURT,OF,KARNATAKA, BANGALORE,–,560,001, …RESPONDENT, (BY,SMT.,N.,ANITHA,GIRISH,,HCGP), , , THIS, CRIMINAL, APPEAL, IS, FILED, UNDER, SECTION, 374(2),OF,CRPC,PRAYING,TO,SET,ASIDE,THE,JUDGMENT, AND, ORDER, DATED, 31.07.2013, PASSED, BY, THE, S.J.,, KODAGU,, MADIKERI, IN, SPL., CASE, (NDPS), NO.4/2007, CONVICTING,THE,APPELLANT/ACCUSED,FOR,THE,OFFENCE, P/U/S/,8(c),AND,20(b)(ii)(C),OF,NDPS,ACT., ( CRL.A.(NO.315(of(2014( ( BETWEEN, , SRI,N,RAJAIAH,@,RAJU, S/O,SARAIAH, AGED,ABOUT,31,YEARS, DRIVER,,DOOR,NO.4-106, SINGAPURA,VILLAGE, HUJIRABAD,MANDALA, KAREEM,NAGAR,DISTRICT, ANDHRA,PRADESH, (NOW,IN,JUDICIAL,CUSTODY), …APPELLANT, , (BY,SRI,RAJASHEKAR,K.,&,, ,SRI,B.,RAVINDRA,,ADVOCATES), , AND, , STATE,OF,KARNATAKA, BY,MADIKERI,RURAL,POLICE,STATIONI, MADIKERI, REP.,BY,THE,STATE,PUBLIC,PROSECUTOR, HIGH,COURT,OF,KARNATAKA, BANGALORE,–,560,001, …RESPONDENT, (BY,SMT.,N.,ANITHA,GIRISH,,HCGP), , , THIS, CRIMINAL, APPEAL, IS, FILED, UNDER, SECTION, 374(2),OF,CRPC,PRAYING,TO,SET,ASIDE,THE,JUDGMENT, AND, ORDER, DATED, 31.07.2013, PASSED, BY, THE, S.J.,, KODAGU,, MADIKERI, IN, SPL., CASE, (NDPS), NO.4/2007, CONVICTING, THE, APPELLANTS/ACCUSED, FOR, THE, OFFENCE,P/U/S/,8(c),AND,20(b)(ii)(C),OF,NDPS,ACT., , , IN, THESE, CRIMINAL, APPEALS, ARGUMENTS, BEING, HEARD,, RESERVED, FOR, JUDGMENT, ON, 16.02.2026,, COMING, ON, "PRONOUNCEMENT, OF, ORDERS",, THIS, DAY,, THE,COURT,DELIVERED,THE,FOLLOWING:, , CORAM:,HON'BLE,MR.,JUSTICE,G.,BASAVARAJA, , CAV(JUDGMENT(

¶1All,these,appeals,arise,out,of,the,judgment,passed,in, stSpl.,Case,(NDPS),No.4,of,2007,dated,31 ,July,,2013,by,the, District,and,Sessions,Judge,,Kodagu,,Madikeri.,,

¶2For, the, sake, of, convenience,, the, parties, herein, are, referred,to,as,per,their,status,before,the,trial,Court.,

¶3The,brief,facts,leading,to,this,appeal,are,that,the,Sub-Inspector, of, Police,, Madikeri, Rural, Police, Station, has, submitted,the,charge-sheet,against,the,accused,Nos.1,to,3, for,the,offence,punishable,under,Sections,8(c),,20(b),of,the, Narcotic,Drugs,and,Psychotropic,Substances,Act,,1985,read, with, Section, 34, of, Indian, Penal, Code., The, case, against, accused, No.4, was, split, up, as, he, was, absconding, and, a, separate,case,was,registered,in,Spl.,Case,(NDPS),No.11,of, 2007.,, th4. It, is, alleged, by, the, prosecution, that, on, 26 , November,,2006,,CW1-P.P.Raghavaiah,,working,as,a,Head, Constable,in,Madikeri,Rural,Police,Station,,CW6-Rajesh,B.K,, Constable,in,that,station,and,a,Forest,Guard,by,name,K.A, Ramesh, shown, as, CW5, in, the, charge-sheet,, working, in, Sampaje, Forest, Range,, were, entrusted, with, the, task, of, checking, vehicles, near, Sampaje, Check-post, within, the, limits, of,, Sampaje, Forest, Range., , Around, 12.30, p.m.,, when, they, were, near, the, check-post,, a, Toyota, lorry, bearing, Registration, No.AP-09/T-0575, came, from, the, side, of, Madikeri., , The, driver, of, the, lorry, was, asked, to, stop, the, vehicle., , Accordingly,, it, was, stopped., The, driver, and, another,person,who,was,on,the,left,side,of,the,lorry,tried,to, run, away., , Immediately, they, were, caught, hold, of., They, disclosed, their, name, as, Rajaiah, and, G.Devendra., , One, more,person,who,was,in,the,lorry,attempting,to,run,,was, also,caught.,He,also,disclosed,his,name,as,Maruthi.,When, interrogated,, they, stated, that, they, had, come, from, Kachiguda, of, Andhra, Pradesh., , When, the, lorry, was, checked,,they,found,four,plastic,bags,which,were,half,filled, with, cannabis, leaves., In, the, body, of, the, lorry, a, box-like, thing,had,been,formed.,,In,that,,there,were,11,plastic,bags, containing, cannabis, leaves., When, questioned, the, accused, stated, that, they, had, no, license, to, transfer, the, same., Therefore,,the,vehicle,and,the,contraband,were,seized.,The, accused,was,taken,to,the,outpost,police,station,attached,to, Madikeri, Rural, Police, Station., Thereafter,, CW1, went, to, Madikeri,Rural,Police,station,and,gave,complaint.,,Based,on, that,, case, was, registered, in, Crime, No.175, of, 2006., Investigation, was, taken, over, by, CW16, the, PSI, of, that, Station.,,They,recorded,the,voluntary,statement,of,accused, Nos.1, to, 3., , They, disclosed, that, accused, No.4, had, given, them,the,ganja,leaves,for,being,transported,from,Warangal, of,Andhra,Pradesh,to,Mangalore.,Thus,the,involvement,of, the,accused,No.4,came,to,be,known.,,A,sample,of,what,was, seized,was,sent,for,chemical,analysis,and,it,was,confirmed, that, it, was, cannabis., Thereafter,, charge-sheet, was, filed, against,all,the,four,accused,in,crime,number.,,Accused,were, enlarged,on,bail.,

¶5Upon,hearing,on,charges,,the,trial,Court,has,framed, charges,for,the,offences,punishable,under,Sections,8(c),and, 20(b),of,NDPS,Act,,1985,and,the,same,was,read,over,and, explained, to, the, accused, in, the, language, known, to, them, i.e.,, Telugu, language., , Having, understood, the, same,, Accused,Nos.1,to,3,have,pleaded,not,guilty,and,claimed,to, be,tried.,,

¶6To, prove, the, case, of, prosecution,, in, all,, nine,, witnesses,were,examined,as,PWs1,to,9,and,nine,documents, were,marked,as,Exhibits,P1,to,P9,and,two,Material,Objects, were,marked,as,MOs.1,and,2.,,On,closure,of,prosecution, side,evidence,,statements,of,the,accused,under,Section,313, of,Code,of,Criminal,Procedure,were,recorded.,,The,accused, have, totally, denied, the, evidence, of, prosecution, witness.,, However,, they, have, not, chosen, to, lead, any, defence, evidence,on,their,behalf.,

¶7Having, heard,the,arguments,on,both,sides,,the,trial, Court,has,convicted,the,accused,for,the,offences,punishable, under, Section, 8(c),, 20(b)(iii)(C), of, the, NDPS, Act., Being, aggrieved, by, the, judgment, of, conviction, and, order, on, sentence,the,appellants/accused,have,preferred,this,appeal.,

¶8Learned, counsel, for, the, appellant, would, submit, that, the, judgment, of, conviction, passed, by, the, trial, Court, is, without,appreciation,of,facts,,borne,out,from,records,to,the, law,in,force,pertaining,to,the,offence,under,the,NDPS,Act, and,hence,same,has,resulted,in,miscarriage,of,justice.,(

¶9PW1-Medical,officer,examined,as,the,Gazetted,Officer, affixing, seizure,, deposes, in, his, examination-in-chief, that, the, police, told, him, that, they, will, neatly, write, the, panchanama,later,and,bring,it,in,the,evening,for,signature, of,this,witness,and,this,witness,has,been,treated,as,hostile, by,the,prosecution.,,Even,the,suggestion,put,by,the,Public, Prosecutor, that, police, had, drawn, the, panchanama, at, Sampaje, Forest, Check, Post, and, signatures, of, witnesses, were, taken,, is, denied, by, this, witness., , This, witness, has, categorically, admitted, that, Exhibit, P2-Panchanama, was, signed,him,in,his,quarters.,This,evidence,totally,demolishes, the,case,of,the,prosecution,with,respect,to,the,primary,and, most,vital,evidence,in,the,case,,which,is,alleged,seizure,of, the,contraband,as,per,Exhibit,P2.,,

¶10PW1-the,seizing,Gazetted,Officer,further,deposed,that, he,did,not,examine,the,box,like,things,in,the,vehicle,and, that,the,plastic,bags,were,all,open,when,he,saw,them.,This, evidence,further,establishes,the,fact,that,there,is,no,seizure, made,from,the,possession,of,any,accused,and,moreover,the, alleged,plastic,bags,were,in,an,open,stage.,,PW1,deposed, that,in,his,presence,the,alleged,contraband,was,not,seized, nor,were,any,photographs,taken,in,his,presence.,,

¶11PW2,being,first,informant,and,one,among,the,raiding, team,, deposes, that, after, discovering, contraband, in, truck, and, after, apprehending, accused, 1, to, 3,, he, left, the, truck, and,at,Sampaje,check,post,entrusting,CW6,to,guard,and,he, proceeded, to, Madikeri., This, again, renders, the, alleged, seizure, and, apprehension, untrustworthy., This, also, dispels, the,fact,of,any,alleged,seizure,from,these,accused,and,also, for,the,reason,that,Exhibit,P3,complaint,does,not,speak,of, CW6, being, asked, to, stay, back, at, Sampaje, to, guard, the, vehicle,and,the,accused.,In,addition,,the,evidence,of,this, witness, about, the, seizure, is, also, not, trustworthy, for, the, reason, that, he, states, that, he, travelled, back, to, Sampaje, from, Madikeri, by, bus., But, PW9,, the, Investigating, Officer, and,Sub-Inspector,of,Police,,states,that,this,witness,along, with,him,and,PW1,travelled,together,to,Sampaje,by,jeep.,,

¶12Two,independent,panchas,examined,as,PW7,and,PW8, have,turned,hostile,to,the,case,of,the,prosecution.,,Their, evidence,does,not,corroborate,each,other,and,are,doubtful, about, the, seizure, of, contraband, as, also, the, arrest, of, the, accused.,,

¶13The,trial,judge,has,wrongfully,appreciated,that,there, has, been, seizure, from, the, vehicle, in, which, the, accused, were, travelling, and, accused, have, failed, to, explain, as, to, contraband, in, their, possession., , This, is, an, incorrect, appreciation, of, evidence, on, record., , There, is, failure, on, behalf, of, the, prosecution, to, prove, possession, against, the, accused.,,Hence,,the,presumption,cannot,be,drawn.,,The, trial,judge,has,failed,to,appreciate,the,written-statements, submitted, under, Section, 313, of, CrPC;, there, was, no, possession, proved, as, against, the, accused., Hence,, the, explanation,given,by,these,accused,were,most,probable,in, the,given,circumstances.,The,Investigating,Officer,has,not, complied,with,the,mandatory,provisions,of,Section,52A,of, NDPS, Act., , On, all, these, grounds, he, sought, to, allow, the, appeals.,

¶14As, against, this,, Smt., Anitha, N., Girish,, the, learned, HCGP, appearing, for, the, respondent-State,, would, submit, that,the,trial,Court,has,properly,appreciated,the,evidence, on,record,and,passed,the,impugned,judgment,of,conviction, and,sentence,and,there,is,no,ground,for,interference,by,this, Court,in,these,appeals.,,Hence,,she,sought,for,dismissal,of, appeals.,,

¶15Having, heard, the, arguments, on, both, sides, and, on, perusal,of,materials,,the,following,points,would,arise,for,my, consideration:, 1) Whether, the, trial, Court, is, justified, in, convicting, the, accused, for, the, offence, intersection,8(c),and,section,20(b),of,NDPS, Act?, 2) What,order?,

¶16My,answer,to,the,above,points,are:( Point,No.1:,in,the,negative;, Point,No.2:,As,per,final,order., Regarding(Point(No.1:(

¶17I,have,carefully,examined,the,materials,placed,before, ththis, Court., It, is, the, case, of, the, prosecution, that, on, 26 , November,, 2006, at, about, 12:30, pm, , at, Sampaje, Village, within, the, limits, of, Madikeri, Rural, Police, Station, near, the, Forest, Check-Post,, accused, 1, to, 3, were, found, in, illegal, transportation,of,Ganja,weighing,106,kgs.,in,a,DCM,Toyota, vehicle, bearing, registration, No.AP-09/T-0575, which, was, supplied, by, accused, No.4, and, the, accused, were, in, illegal, possession, of, narcotic, drugs, without, any, valid, license, or, permit, from, the, competent, Authority., , Thereby,, accused, committed, offence,, under, Section, 80(c), and, 20(1)(b), of, NDPS,Act.,

¶18To, prove, the, case, of, the, prosecution,, in, all,, nine, witnesses,were,examined,as,PWs1,to,9,and,nine,documents, were,marked,as,Exhibits,P1,to,P9,and,two,material,objects, were,marked,as,MOs1,and,2.,

¶19CW1-P.P., Raghavayya,, Assistant, Sub-Inspector, of, Police,examined,as,PW2.,,He,has,stated,that,from,2003,to, 2009,he,was,working,as,Head,Constable,in,Madikeri,Rural, Police, Station, and, that, Sampaje, Outpost, was, attached, to, the,Madikeri,Rural,Police,Station.,In,the,year,2006,,he,was, thworking,in,that,Outpost.,On,26 ,November,2006,,CW1-K.A., Ramesh,, examined, as, PW6, and, CW6-BK, Rajesh, were, checking,vehicles,near,Sampaje,check,Post.,,Around,12:30, pm,a,Toyota,vehicle,bearing,registration,No.AP-09/T-0575, came,from,the,side,of,Madikeri,and,the,same,was,stopped.,, When,it,was,being,checked,,its,driver,and,other,person,who, was,sitting,on,the,left,side,,got,down,and,started,to,run.,, PW6,and,CW6,went,after,them.,,By,then,,another,person, who,was,in,the,Lorry,,got,down,and,when,he,was,trying,to, escape,,he,caught,old,of,him.,,The,person,who,was,caught, hold, was, accused, No.3., The, remaining, two, persons, who, were,caught,hold,by,PW6,and,CW6,were,accused,1,and,2.,, He, has, further, deposed, that, in, the, lorry,, there, was, dry, grass,and,when,it,was,removed,,he,found,four,plastic,bags, containing,cannabis,leaves.,There,was,a,box,like,thing,that, had,been,set,up,in,the,body,of,the,lorry,,and,when,it,was, opened,, he, found, eleven, plastic, bags, containing, cannabis, leaves.,The,accused,,when,questioned,,stated,that,they,had, no, permit, to, transport, the, same, and, that, they, were, transporting,it,from,Andhra,Pradesh,to,Mangalore.,He,has, further,deposed,that,the,vehicle,and,the,property,were,left, at,the,Check-Post,and,accused,were,taken,to,the,Outpost.,, Then, he, proceeded, to, Madikeri, Rural, Police, Station, and, gave,complaint,as,per,Exhibit,P3.,,He,has,further,deposed, that, he, gave, complaint, to, CW16-Sub, Inspector, who, is, examined,as,PW9.,,PW9,came,to,the,spot,and,secured,CW3, and, 4, i.e., PW3, and, 4, as, Panchas, and, PW1, Doctor, a, Gazetted,Officer.,There,,the,mahazar,as,per,exhibit,P2,,was, drawn.,The,cannabis,leaves, which, were,in,the,bags,were, seized., , For, the, purpose, of, sending, to, the, chemical, analysis,, a, portion, was, taken, out, as, sample, and, packed, separately.,He,has,also,given,the,details,regarding,packing, and, sealing., , Further, he, has, deposited, that, in, the, lorry,, there,was,a,document,pertaining,to,it,,which,was,marked, as,Exhibit,P4.,

¶20PW1-Dr.B.N.,Harish,,Medical,officer,,has,deposed,that, thon, 26 , November, 2006, at, 2.00, pm,, when, he, was, in, his, residential, Quarters,, the, Sub-Inspector, of, Madikeri, Rural, Police, Station,, went, there, and, told, him, that, he, should, accompany, him, to, Sampaje, and, that, he, had, taken, necessary, permission, from, the, District, Surgeon., , He, has, further,deposed,that,around,4.00,pm,in,the,police,vehicle,, he,went,to,Sampaje,along,with,Inspector,and,other,staff.,, He,has,also,deposited,that,before,going,to,Sampaje,,they, went, to, the, police, station, and, in, the, station,, there, were, three, persons, who, were, shown, and, upon, enquiry,, they, disclosed,their,names,and,addresses.,He,also,searched,for, his, person, first, before, enquiring, those, persons., Then, the, police,took,him,near,the,tempo,which,had,been,parked,in, the,premises,of,Police,Station,,where,he,found,plastic,bags., He, has, deposed, that, the, police, told, him, that, the, plastic, bags, contained, Ganja,, but, he, has, stated, that, he, did, not, know,till,then,what,Ganja,was.,,He,has,also,stated,that,in, the,police,station,,he,saw,3,persons,and,he,did,not,know, the,language,of,those,persons.,,He,has,also,stated,that,a, sample,of,Ganja,was,taken,out,from,those,bags,and,it,was, separately,packed,and,sealed.,,He,has,identified,the,vehicle, in,the,photographs,Exhibit,P1(a),and,P1(d).,

¶21PWs3,and,4,are,CWs3,and,4.,,PW3,has,stated,that,at, the,relevant,point,of,time,,he,was,working,as,a,temporary, employee,in,APMC,and,on,that,day,at,around,12,noon,,a, Toyota, Lorry, came, from, the, side, of, Mysore, and, was, proceeding,towards,Mangalore,and,its,registration,number, was,'0673'.,,Then,he,deposed,that,the,officials,of,the,Police, Department,stopped,that,Lorry,in,which,there,were,three, persons., The, officials, made, them, to, get, down, from, the, lorry.,Thereafter,,the,lorry,was,checked,and,in,the,Lorry,, there,were,plastic,and,gunny,bags.,He,has,stated,that,there, was,a,plastic,bag,in,which,there,were,gunny,bags,and,in, the, gunny, bags, there, were, dry, leaves, and, he, does, not, know,what,those,leaves,were.,,He,has,identified,MOs1,and, 2,and,he,has,stated,that,they,were,the,leaves,found,in,the, Lorry.,,Then,he,has,stated,that,there,were,50,bags,in,the, Lorry., , He, has, identified, accused, 1, and, 2., On, that, day,, accused, No.3, had, not, come, and, he, has, stated, that, he, would,be,able,to,identify,the,third,accused,also.,,Therefore,, thhis,further,examination,was,deferred.,,On,13 ,March,2013,, he,was,again,recalled,for,further,examination,and,on,that, day,the,accused,No.3,had,also,come.,He,,however,,stated, that, the, accused, No.3, was, not, one, of, the, three, persons, whom, he, saw, the, other, day, and, at, that, place., , He, has, deposed,that,accused,1,and,2,were,taken,to,Madikeri,by, police,,but,he,did,not,go,to,Madikeri.,,He,has,also,deposed, that,his,signature,was,taken,to,the,mahazar,Exhibit,P2,near, the,Check,Post,and,since,the,police,told,him,that,the,Lorry, was,seized,,he,signed,Exhibit,P2.,

¶22PW3,has,been,treated,hostile,by,the,prosecution,and, has,been,cross-examined.,In,the,cross-examination,,he,has, admitted,that,he,and,PW4,were,secured,as,Panchas.,,He, admitted, that, PW2, was, present, at, that, place,, but, has, stated,that,he,did,not,see,PW1.,He,has,admitted,that,PW2, showed, the, persons, who, were, in, the, Lorry, and, also, the, property,which,was,there.,,He,has,however,,denied,as,to, showing, of, three, accused, persons, but, stated, that, only, accused,1,and,2,were,shown.,,He,has,also,stated,that,he, does,not,remember,those,persons.,

¶23PW4-B.T.,Ramananda,has,not,fully,supported,the,case, of,prosecution.,

¶24PW5-B., Lingappa,, Assistant, Chemical, Analyst,, has, stdeposed, that, on, 1 , December, 2006,, a, sealed, packet, pertaining,to,the,case,was,sent,by,Madikeri,rural,Police,and, thon, 14 , December, 2006,, he, has, examined, the, same, and, found,that,it,contained,ganja,leaves.,He,has,stated,that,the, conducted,physical,examination,which,disclosed,cystolithic, hairs, of, ganja, and, also, chemical, examination, i.e., beans, alkaline,test,,which,turned,out,to,be,positive.,He,has,also, deposed, as, to, issuance, of, Exhibit, P6-certificate, as, to, chemical,analysis.,

¶25PW7-M.L., Vijaya,, Driver, and, PW8-K.B., Karumbaiah,, who,are,the,independent,witnesses,have,not,supported,the, case,of,prosecution.,

¶26PW9-K.P.,Harishchandra,,Sub-Inspector,of,Police,,has, deposed,as,to,the,investigation,conducted,by,him.,

¶27On,careful,examination,of,the,entire,evidence,placed, before,this,court,,it,makes,clear,that,PW1-Dr,B.N.,Harish,, Retired,Medical,Officer,has,not,fully,supported,the,case,of, prosecution.,He,has,specifically,stated,in,his,evidence,that, he, has, put, signature, on, the, mahazar, Exhibit, P2, in, his, Quarters.,He,has,not,put,signature,on,the,spot.,Further,,in, the,cross-examination,,he,has,clearly,admitted,that,he,has, not,verified,the,box,which,was,found,in,the,vehicle.,He,has, further, stated, that, the, police, have, not, weighed, the, properties,before,him.,,Further,,he,has,deposed,that,when, police,informed,him,that,they,have,seized,ganja,,then,only, he, came, to, know, regarding, the, Ganja, said, to, have, been, seized, by, the, Police., , This, evidence, of, PW1, totally, demolishes, the, case, of, the, prosecution, with, respect, to, alleged, seizure, of, contraband, under, mahazar, Exhibit, P2.,, Further,, the, mahazar, witnesses, have, also, not, fully, supported, the, case, of, the, prosecution., Two, independent, witnesses,PW7,and,8,have,not,supported,the,case,of,the, prosecution.,

¶28This,Court,has,called,for,the,report,as,to,the,seizure,of, lorry, bearing, registration, No.AP-09/T-0575., The, Police, Inspector,Rural,Police,Station,,Madikeri,has,submitted,the, report,stating,that,they,have,seized,106,kgs,of,dried,Ganja, in,Lorry,No.AP-09/T-0575.,,They,have,also,seized,the,RC, book,and,permit.,Further,,he,has,stated,that,in,the,report, the, investigating, officer-Harishchandra,, Police, Sub-Inspector, has, not, shown, the, owner, of, the, Lorry, bearing, number,AP-09/T-0575,as,accused,or,as,a,witness.,Exhibit, P9,is,the,Goods,Carrier,Permit,for,Lorry,bearing,registration, No.,AP-09/T-0575,,which,reveals,that,name,of,the,owner,as, Mir, Maozam, Ali, s/o, Mir, Ghulam, Mohammad, Ali., , The, RC, book, is, also, produced,, which, reveals, the, name, of, the, registered,owner,as,Mir,Maozam,Ali,s/o,Ghulam,Ali,and,the, address,is,shown,as,6-2-837,,Meerbagh,Colony,,Nalgonda,, Andhra,Pradesh.,The,investigating,officer,has,not,enquired, with,or,communicated,the,same,to,the,owner,of,the,Lorry., The, investigating, officer, has, not, assigned, any, reason, for, non-mentioning,the,name,of,the,owner,of,the,Lorry,bearing, registration,No.AP-09/T-0575.,The,investigating,officer,has, not,disclosed,as,to,who,was,the,driver,of,the,Lorry,at,the, relevant,point,of,Time.,The,investigating,officer,has,also,not, taken,any,steps,to,ascertain,as,to,who,was,the,driver,of,the, Lorry,at,the,relevant,point,of,time.,

¶29Accused,No.1-N,Rajaiah,,in,313,statement,has,stated, as,under:, "ಆ2 wನ2 /ಾನು2 1ೈದ0ಾCಾ?2 Fಂದ2 Cೖಸೂ()ೆ2 0ೈ?ನ?:2 ಬಂjೆ22/ೇ2ಆ0ೋWಯ24ಾQ2ಮಂಗಳ!(ನ?:22ಾ2ನB=2<"4ೆB)ಾI2 <"4ೆB2ಪVೆಯುL3ದ]ರು2ಅವರನು92/ೋಡಲು2/ಾನು2ಮತು322??Ã2ಆ0ೋW2 ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ2 4ೆರ6jೆ]ವO.2 Cೖಸೂ(Fಂದ2 ಕು??ಲನಗರ2ೆH2 ಬಂದು2 ಕು??ಲನಗರwಂದ2 ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ2 1ೋಗಲು2 ಕು'ಾಲನಗರದ2 ಬR2 F(ಾ]ಣದ?:2 2ಾಯುL3jೆ]ವO.2 ಆ2 .ೇTೆ)ೆ2 ಈ2 .ಾಹನ2 ಬಂwದು]2 ಅದರ2 Cಾಲಕ2ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ21ೋಗುL3ರುವOjಾI21ೇ6ದ2Cೕ0ೆ)ೆ2/ಾ3ಬlರೂ2 ಸಹ2ಅjೇ2.ಾಹನದ?:21ೊರ3ೆವO.2?ಾಗ"ದ?:2??ೕಸರು2ತ#ಾಸ‡ೆ2 ?ಾ`ದರು2 Cಾಲಕ2 ಓ`1ೋದ2 ನf?ಬlರನು92 ??ೕಸರು2 Y`ದು2ೊಂಡರು.",

¶30Accused,No.2-Devendra,, has, stated,in,his,statement, section,313,of,CRPC,as,under:, "ಆ2 wನ2 /ಾನು2 1ೈದ0ಾCಾ?2 Fಂದ2 Cೖಸೂ()ೆ2 0ೈ?ನ?:2 ಬಂjೆ.2 ನನ92 4ಾQ2 ಮಂಗಳ!(ನ?:2 2ಾ2ನB=2 )ಾI2 <"4ೆB2 ಪVೆಯುL3ದ]ರು.2 ಅವರನು92 /ೋಡಲು2 /ಾನು2 ಮತು32 1/ೇ2 ಆ0ೋW,2 ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ2 4ೆರ6jೆ]ವO.2 Cೖಸೂ(Fಂದ2 ಕು??ಲನಗರ2ೆH2 ಬಂದು2 ಕು??ಲನಗರwಂದ2 ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ2 1ೋಗಲು2 ಕು'ಾಲನಗರದ2 ಬR2 F(ಾ]ಣದ?:2 2ಾಯುL3jೆ]ವO.2 ಆ2 .ೇTೆ)ೆ2 ಈ2 .ಾಹನ2 ಬಂwದು]2 ಅದರ2 Cಾಲಕ2ಮಂಗಳ!()ೆ21ೋಗುL3ರುವOjಾI21ೇ6ದ2Cೕ0ೆ)ೆ2/ಾ3ಬlರು2 ಸಹ2ಅjೇ2.ಾಹನದ?:21ೊರ3ೆವO.2?ಾಗ"ದ?:2??ೕಸರು2ತ#ಾಸ‡ೆ2 ?ಾ`ದರು.2 Cಾಲಕ2 ಓ`2 1ೋದ2 ನf?ಬlರನು92 ??ೕಸರು22 Y`ದು2ೊಂಡರು.",

¶31Accused, No.3-G, Maruti,, has, stated, in, his, statement, intersection,313,as,under:, "ಆ2 wನ2 /ಾನು2 ಆಂಧ%ಪ%jೇಶದ2 YಂದೂಪOರwಂದ2 ಸುಳ2ದ2 2ೆ3*2 .ೈದ2"ೕಯ2 2ಾ(ೇ*ನ?:2 .ಾ2ಸಂಗ2 ?ಾಡುL3ದ]2 ನನ92 ‹ಮ?ಗF)ೆ2ಮ/ೆQಂದ2Lಂ`ಯನು924ೆ)ೆದು2ೊಂಡು22ೊಡಲು2Cೕ(ೆ2 1ೇ6ದ2 .ಾಹನದ?:2 1ೋಗುL3jೆ].2 ?ಾಗ"ದ?:2 12 ಮತು32 2/ೇ2 ಆ0ೋWಗ???2ಸಹ2ಹL32ೊಂಡರು.2ಮುಂjೆ21ೋಗುL3jಾ]ಗ2??ೕಸರು2 ತ#ಾಸ‡ೆ2 ?ಾ`ದರು2 Cಾಲಕ2 ಓ`2 1ೋದ2 ನಮ?ನು92 ??ೕಸರು2 Y`ದು2ೊಂಡರು.",

¶32The, evidence, of, PW2, reveals, that, the, driver, of, the, lorry, got, down, from, the, Lorry, and, fled., , The, statement, given,by,the,accused,while,recording,statement,Section,313, of,CRPC,shows,that,explanation,given,by,these,accused,are, most,probable,in,the,circumstance,for,the,reason,that,the, investigating,officer,has,failed,to,investigate,the,owners,as, also,the,driver,of,the,Lorry.,This,statement,of,the,accused, will, create, doubt, that, whether, they, were, travelling, as, passengers,in,the,lorry,or,were,fully,aware,that,they,were, transporting,Ganja,in,the,said,Lorry.,On,which,capacity,that, accused,were,travelling,in,the,Lorry,has,not,been,disclosed, by,the,prosecution.,None,of,the,prosecution,witnesses,have, deposed, against, these, accused, that, these, accused, were, transporting, the, alleged, Ganja, in, the, said, lorry., , In, the, absence, of, these, material, piece, of, evidence,, it, is, more, difficult, to, come, to, the, conclusion, that, the, accused, have, committed, the, alleged, offence., , The, investigating, officer, has,not,complied,with,the,mandatory,provisions,of,Section, 100(7),of,CrPC,and,also,Sections,50,and,52A,of,NDPS,Act.,,

¶33Viewed, from, any, angle,, I, do, not, find, any, cogent,, convincing,or,corroborative,legal,evidence,to,prove,that,the, accused,have,committed,the,alleged,offence.,The,trial,court, has, not, properly, appreciated, the, material, on, record, and, convicted,the,accused,which,is,not,sustainable,under,law., Accordingly,,I,answer,Point,No.1,in,the,negative., Regarding(Point(No.2:(

¶34For,the,reasons,aforestated,and,discussions,,I,proceed, to,pass,the,following:, O(R(D(E(R(

i),, Appeals,are,allowed;,

ii),, Judgment, of, conviction, and, order, on, stsentence, dated, 31 , July,, 2013,, passed, in, Special, Case, (NDPS), No.4, of, 2007, by, the, Sessions, Judge,, Kodagu, at, Madikeri,, is, set, aside;,

iii),,Appellants/Accused, 1, to, 3, are, acquitted, of, the, offence, punishable, under, Section, 8(c), and,20(b)(ii)(C),of,NDPS,Act;,

iv),,Trial, Court, is, directed, to, return, the, fine, amount, if, any, deposited, by, the, accused, upon,proper,identification., , Registry, is, directed, to, send, the, trial, Court, records, along, with, the, copy, of, this, judgment, to, the, concerned, Court., Sd/-, (G.(BASVARAJA)( JUDGE( ( ( ( ( ( lnn,