Seraikela, December 10: The court of Principal District and Sessions Judge, Seraikela, Vijay Kumar, while hearing a case of illegal trade of opium leaves, sentenced two accused in the case Amar Mandal, resident of Dalikela in Kharsawan and Mukesh Kesari, resident of Padmapur, Kharsawan, to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs one lakh fine.
In all three sections 15, 22 (c) and 27 (a) of the NDPS Act 1985, both the accused were found guilty of the case and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹ 100000 in each section. In default of payment of fine, each shall undergo further simple imprisonment for one year.
In relation to the said case under Kuchai police station, a case was registered in this regard on statement of then Kuchai police station in-charge Uday Kumar Gupta. In which it was told that on the basis of secret information about smuggling of opium leaves through Kuchai Gopidh road, a special team with Kuchai Block Development Officer, Circle Officer Malay Kumar as per the instructions of the senior officials. Under this, vehicle checking was started on the night of 21 September 2020 near Jovajanjir village.. Around 11:40 pm, a Mahindra pickup vehicle was seen approaching from Gopidh’s side. Which stopped at a short distance from the police checkpost. And after getting down from the Mahindra pickup vehicle JH05A AQ-7138, two people took advantage of the darkness and managed to escape into the bushes. While the police took the driver Mukesh Kesari and another person Amar Mandal into custody on the spot and searched the vehicle as per rules. Out of which 70 plastic bags weighing 632.4 kg of Doda were recovered. It was informed by both the arrested accused that opium’s illegal business was being done in association with Dharnidhar Mandal and Shiv Kumar Mandal, who had escaped from the spot.