Brown sugar trader in Odisha jailed for 20 years

A special court ordered 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) to a man and fined him Rs 1 Lakh on Thursday on charges of brown sugar peddling in Khordha district.

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The convict will undergo additional rigorous imprisonment for a year in case he fails to pay the fine amount, the court ordered.

Sequence of events leading to the imprisonment

According to official sources, the Court of 2nd Additional District Judge-cum-Special Judge, Bhubaneswar convicted the accused person Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, aged around 38 years, from Jamusahi locality under Begunia police limits of the district.

Bibhuti was convicted U/s 21(c)/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 in STF PS case (No-17/2020).

On June 1, 2020, the accused person along with his associate was transporting contraband brown sugar (heroin) in a motorcycle. He was then intercepted near Kalinga Vihar crossing on the side of NH-16 under Tamando Police limits in Bhubaneswar.

During a search, a huge quantity of brown sugar weighing 1,008 grams and other incriminating items were recovered and seized from his possession. The seized brown sugar was sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) for chemical examination.

The Scientific Officer of SFSL, Rasulgarh opined that the drugs were of Diacetylmorphine (chemical name of heroin). After a successful probe, a charge sheet was submitted, at that time, against the accused person U/s 21(c)/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.

The part trial was conducted against the above-mentioned accused person, and during trial, the prosecution examined 12 witnesses and exhibited 29 numbers relevant documents.

The seized brown sugar has already been destroyed as per order of the Court.

The probe team was led by investigating officer (IO) Sunita Pradhan, Inspector (STF).

Worth mentioning, Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch is the specialised wing of Odisha Police to curb organised crime in the State. Narcotic substances are one of the main focus areas of the STF. The anti-crime agency continues its drive against drug peddlers.

Must Read: Police intensify crackdown on drug trafficking in Bhubaneswar

In NDPS cases, 20 years is the maximum punishment. This is the third drug trading case in Odisha where the accused person has been convicted with 20 years of imprisonment.