Representational Image (Thinkstock)
A woman held guilty for possessing 500 grams of heroin has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Delhi court. The court noted that the prosecution succeeded in proving the charges against her despite the absence of any public witnesses.
Special NDPS judge MR Sethi held the accused, a resident of north-west Delhi, guilty under provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced her to seven years rigorous imprisonment.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 70,000 on her.
"Non joining of public witnesses is not fatal to the search and consequent recovery," the judge said while convicting her.
While referring to a Supreme Court judgement, the court said that "public at large is generally reluctant to come forward to depose before the court, therefore, prosecution case cannot be doubted for non joining of independent witnesses".
The woman reportedly could not prove that she was falsely implicated by the police.
According to the prosecution, on January 11, 2012, a raiding team of Narcotics Cell apprehended the woman near Rohini in Delhi after receiving a tip-off from an informer.
On being searched, she was found with 500 grams of heroin which she had hidden inside her clothes, the prosecution said.
During the proceedings, the woman denied the allegations and claimed that she was falsely implicated by the police but reportedly failed to prove it.