Jammu, Sept 30 :
The Court of Sessions, Special Judge (NDPS Cases), Jammu, Parvaiz Iqbal, has convicted and sentenced Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Lidder Mattoo, Anantnag, to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh in a 2018 narcotics case involving the recovery of 1.500 kilograms of charas.
According to the sentencing order, Bhat was convicted in FIR No. 89/2018 registered at Police Station Nagrota for offences punishable under Sections 8 and 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The court observed that the accused was found in conscious possession of 1.500 kg of charas, which was being transported from Kashmir towards Jammu in a Scorpio vehicle bearing registration number JK22-4299. He was apprehended by police at TCP Nagrota on NH-44 on April 16, 2018.
The court noted that the recovered quantity falls within the commercial quantity category. It also considered submissions that the convict was a first-time offender, had no previous criminal record and had already remained in custody for more than five years.
After hearing Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Kumar and defence counsel Anwar Saleem, the court considered the aggravating and mitigating circumstances before determining the sentence.
Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Kumar had sought a stern punishment, arguing that the recovery involved commercial quantity and that narcotics trafficking has a serious impact on society, particularly the younger generation. The defence, meanwhile, sought leniency, submitting that Bhat was neither a kingpin nor financier and was working as a driver for his livelihood.
The court ultimately sentenced Sajjad Ahmed Bhat to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1,00,000 under Section 20 read with Section 8 of the NDPS Act. In default of payment of the fine, he will undergo an additional six months’ rigorous imprisonment. The court also granted him the benefit of set-off under Section 428 CrPC.
The sentencing order further directed that the seized contraband be destroyed after the expiry of two months, subject to any appellate proceedings. The Scorpio vehicle used for transportation was ordered to be released in favour of its registered owner after the court found that it had been used without the owner’s consent or connivance.
The order was pronounced on September 30, 2026, by Parvaiz Iqbal, Sessions (Special) Judge, NDPS Cases, Jammu.(KNC)