Drug peddlers get 10-year RI

Two men from Tamil Nadu found guilty of peddling a huge quantity of ganja were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 1 lakh by principal district and sessions court on Friday.

On May 23, 2017, Dharmasthala police and District Crime Investigation Bureau (DCIB) acting on a tip off arrested Chandrakumar alias Sinnavan (36), Shanthakumar (24) from Gudaluru Nadugaani (in Tamil Nadu) near Dharmasthala KSRTC bus stand and seized 20.135 kg ganja worth over Rs 4 lakh. The sub-inspector of Dharmasthala had filed the chargesheet against the drug peddlers.

Public prosecutor Kudriya Pushparaj Adyanthaya had paraded as many as five witnesses, including DySP C R Ravish. Principal district and sessions court Judge Kadloor Sathyanarayanacharya upholding the arguments of public prosecutor Pushparaj Adyanthaya sentenced them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The drug peddlers will have to serve an additional period of six months, if they fail to pay a fine amount of Rs 1 lakh.

Another accused Tamil Selvi, however, was acquitted on grounds of lack of evidences.