PTI
 
Mumbai, Jun 1:  In a move that might attract a lesser punishment if found guilty, Bollywood actor Fardeen Khan urged a Sessions Court to amend the chargesheet filed against him in cocaine seizure case.

Khan was arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in May 2001 for allegedly possessing cocaine. Police claimed that Khan was purchasing cocaine from a peddler, Nasir Abdul Karim Khan when both were nabbed.

Fardeen was later granted bail. Now, his lawyer Aiyaz Khan has approached the court, demanding that prosecution may specify the amount of cocaine for which Fardeen will be tried, because according to Fardeen, he was purchasing only one gram of cocaine from Nasir. The chargesheet is also silent on this aspect.

Nasir, in a statement, has backed Fardeen's claim saying that he planned to sell only one gram of cocaine to Fardeen and remaining eight grams to some other buyer. Altogether, nine grams of cocaine was seized.

The lawyer told reporters later that such specification would help Fardeen's case because punishment varies according to the quantum of drug found on accused.

If, in case of cocaine, quantity found is two grams or less, punishment is six months imprisonment. In the alternative, the court can also let the accused off on probation. The third alternative is committing the accused to detoxication centre, if it is a first-time offence.

On the other hand, if amount of cocaine is above two grams, the minimum punishment is ten years imprisonment, and maximum punishment is 20 years inmprisonment.

The hearing on the application is scheduled for June 5.