The High Court on Monday criticised the Excise Enforcement and Anti-Narcotic Special Squad for its failure to investigate a case relating to seizure of 39 kg of ganja. Justice K. Abraham Mathew delivered the judgment while setting aside a 10-year rigorous imprisonment awarded to the two accused in a case.
The court was allowing an appeal filed by Ashraf and Ansari, both of Pathanapuram, seeking to quash the lower court’s order on the sentence. In October 2006, officers of the Excise Department and Anti-Narcotic Special Squad had rounded up the accused while transporting 39 kg of ganja in a vehicle. The Kollam Sessions Court sentenced the accused to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rs.1 lakh each.
The court observed that though a huge quantity of ganga was seized from the accused, their residences were not searched. No prudent officer would have made this omission.
