Drug carrier jailed for 10 years

A Madhya Pradesh native, having over 17 kgs of heroin in his possession, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined Rs 1 lakh.

Additional sessions judge M K Nagpal imposed the minimum 10 years of jail term, prescribed under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, on 35-year-old Irfan, showing leniency to him on his plea that he has the liability to maintain his wife and a minor son.

The court took into account the fact that he was not a "kingpin of any drugs syndicate" and was merely acting as a carrier of the contrabands for monetary benefits.

"Keeping in view the age, family background and all other attending circumstances, Irfan is being awarded the minimum sentence of rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years and a fine of Rs one lakh for the offence," the ASJ said.

According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Irfan was caught at the New Delhi Railway Station in April 2004 on a tip off and was found carrying 17 kg of heroin in a bag.

Prosecution said Irfan used to deliver banned substance in small quantity to Salim for some monetary considerations for which he used to get Rs 1000 per trip. Irfan later started delivering heroin to some Africans in huge quantity, added the prosecution.
Court asks man to pay alimony to wife, daughters

A tailor has been directed by a Delhi court to pay three-fifth of his earnings – Rs 3,900 – as monthly maintenance to his estranged wife and two minor daughters.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vandana Jain asked Jagjit Singh, also working as a property dealer, to give alimony to his wife and his minor children, who were mercilessly beaten up by the husband , east Delhi in March 2009.

“I am of the view that the family cake is to be divided into five portions, out of which two portion are to be retained by the earning spouse and remaining three portions are to be divided amongst three petitioners (woman and her two minor daughters),” the court said.

The court's order came on a plea filed by the woman who said she was an unemployed lady and was unable to maintain herself and her minor girls, who are school going children.

Observing that the man has no other liability apart from maintaining his wife and his minor daughters, the court said, “Keeping into account the observations made above, respondent (man) is directed to pay maintenance to petitioner no 1 (woman) Rs 1,300 per month till the date of re-marriage or for life time and to his minor daughters Rs 1,300 each per month till attaining majority or till the time law otherwise permits.”