Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 18: Through a judgment passed on Friday December 17, the chief district and sessions court here has sentenced a person accused of selling charas to three years rigorous imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 25,000, after finding him guilty of the charge. He has been ordered to undergo a year more in jail in case of failure to pay fine.

The person held guilty in this case has been identified as Praveen Belchada alias Pammi, a resident of Arkana Kamblapadavu in Mudipu. The chief district and sessions court happens to be special court for trying cases under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Praveen Belchada had been arrested by the then police inspector of Coastal Security Force, Mukund Nayak, from near the entrance to Sadashiva Temple at Suratkal on March 13, 2012. During the raid, the accused was found to be in possession of 130 grams of charas. The drug seized from him was sent to forensic laboratory at Bengaluru, and expert from the laboratory, P Manjappa, had not only certified the substance to be charas, but also adduced evidence in the court.

After hearing arguments and counter arguments from both the sides, judge of the court, Uma M G, found the accused guilty and sentenced him. Public prosecutor, Pushparaj Adyantaya represented the prosecution in the case.