Balaraju G Pi vs Naveen Madhukar Shetty on 14 July, 2026

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    Bangalore District Court

    Balaraju G Pi vs Naveen Madhukar Shetty on 14 July, 2026

    KABC030395562022
    
    
    
    
                       Presented on : 19-05-2022
                       Registered on : 19-05-2022
                       Decided on    : 14-07-2026
                       Duration      : 4 years, 1 months, 26 days
    
    
      IN THE COURT OF THE VIII ADDITIONAL CHIEF
        JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, BENGALURU CITY
    
               Present: Smt. Deepa.V., B.A.L. LL B.
                      VIII ACJM, Bengaluru City.
    
               Date: this the 14th Day of July, 2026
    
                       C. C. No.15116/2022
                       (Crime No.224/2021)
    
    State by Sanjay Nagara Police Station,
    Bengaluru.                           ... Complainant
    (Represented by Sri Vishwanath, Senior APP)
    
                             Versus
    
    Sri Naveen Madhukar Shetty,
    Aged about 32 years,
    S/o Sri Late Madhukar Shetty,
    R/at No.16, Bull Krishnappa
    Apartment, Tata Nagara,
    Kodigehalli, Bengaluru.
     KABC030395562022                        CC15116/2022
    
    
    
    
    Native Place:
    No.4, Near Marthoma School,
    Saanoor Manjil,
    Chimboor District,
    Mumbai.                                 ...   Accused
    (Rep. by Sri. Akash Raju Advocate for accused)
    
    1.   Date of commission of    05-10-2021
         offence
    
    2.   Date of FIR              05-10-2021
    
    3.   Date of Charge sheet     11-05-2022
    
    4.   Name of Complainant      Sri Balaraju.G.,     PI,
                                  Sanjay Nagara PS
    
    5.   Offences complained of Under Section 20(b) of
                                NDPS Act.
    
    6.   Date of framing charge   10-10-2022
    
    7.   Charge                   Pleaded not guilty
    
    8.   Date of commencement 05-11-2025
         of Evidence
    
    9.   Date of Judgment is      14-07-2026
         reserved
    
    
                                                        2
     KABC030395562022                         CC15116/2022
    
    
    
    
    10. Date of Judgment          14-07-2026
    
    11. Final order               Accused is acquitted
    
    12. Date of Sentence          -
    
                          JUDGMENT
    

    The Police Sub-Inspector of Sanjay Nagara Police
    Station submitted charge sheet against accused for
    the offence punishable under Section 20(b) of NDPS
    Act.

    2. Prosecution Case: On 05-10-2021 at about
    3.00 p.m., near Railway Station, Lottegollahalli,
    within the limits of Sanjay Nagara Police Station, the
    accused was in illegal possession of 550 grams of
    Ganja for purpose of sale to general public.

    SPONSORED

    3. First Information Report: On the receipt of
    credible information, CW1 namely Sri Balaraj, PI,
    along with CW4 to CW7 conducted the raid upon
    accused and seizure formalities as per Ex.P1 and
    produced accused and seized property before CW11
    and submitted report as per Ex.P7.

    4. Investigation: Thereafter CW11/PW5 Sri
    Girish Naik, PSI on receipt of report as per Ex.P7, he

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    registered FIR as per Ex.P11, subjected the seized
    property to property form No.93/2021, recorded the
    statement of witnesses, sent the seized ganja to FSL
    through CW8 and received Ex.P9 report, obtained
    station diary as per Ex.P12, after completion of
    investigation submitted charge sheet against accused
    for the alleged offence.

    5. At the pre-cognizance stage, the accused was
    enlarged on bail by the order dated 08-10-2021.

    6. On receipt of charge sheet, this Court had
    taken cognizance for the offence alleged against the
    accused.

    7. Copies of prosecution papers as required
    U/Sec. 207 of Cr.P.C have been furnished to the
    accused.

    8. Charge: After hearing learned Sr.APP and
    counsel for accused, the charge for the offences
    punishable U/Sec.20(b) of NDPS Act has been
    framed, read over and explained to the accused in
    the language known to him, who, in turn, pleaded not
    guilty and claimed to be tried.

    9. Prosecution Evidence: The prosecution in
    order to establish its case cited 11 witnesses,
    examined 5 witnesses and exhibited 12 documents

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    and MO1 to MO4 and closed their side. Advocate for
    accused has no objection to mark the FSL report and
    hence the examination of CW9 is given up by the
    order dated 09/12/2025. On account of examination
    of CW1, the examination of CW5 to CW7 is given up
    by the order dated 10/02/2026.

    10. Statement of Accused as per section 313 of
    CrPC: After completion of evidence of prosecution, the
    statement of accused was examined as per section
    313
    of Cr.P.C wherein he denied all incriminating
    evidence appearing in the statement of prosecution
    witnesses and did not lead any rebuttal evidence.

    11. Heard the arguments. Perused materials on
    the record.

    12. The following point are arises for
    consideration is as follows;

    1. Whether the prosecution
    proved beyond all reasonable
    doubt that on 05-10-2021 at
    about 3.00 p.m., near Railway
    Station, Lottegollahalli, within
    the limits of Sanjay Nagara
    Police Station, the accused was
    in illegal possession of 550
    grams of Ganja for purpose of

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    sale to general public thereby
    resulted in commission of an
    offence punishable under Sec.

    20(b) of NDPS Act?

    2. What order?

    13. The findings on the above points are as
    under:

    Point No.1 : In the Negative
    Point No.2 : As per final order

    REASONS

    14. Point No.1: In support of prosecution case
    as narrated in paragraph 2 and the point for
    consideration in paragraph 12 of this judgment, the
    prosecution examined the following witnesses, which
    are as follows

    i. CW2 namely Sri Syed Sadiq @ Syed Sami,
    pancha witness examined as PW1, identified his
    signature on raid panchanama as per Ex.P1 , Sample
    seal as per Ex.P2 and notice as per Ex.P3 as
    Ex.P1(A), Ex.P2(A) and Ex.P3(A) and deposed that he
    has signed on said documents at police station at the
    request of police, no mahazar was conducted and no
    material object were seized in his presence and has

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    not given any statement to police. In this regard, the
    learned Sr.APP has cross examined this witness by
    treating him as hostile witness however no favorable
    answer has been elicited from him to support the
    prosecution case. His denial of statement given before
    the police is marked as Ex.P4.

    ii. CW1 namely Sri Balaraj, PI examined as PW2
    and deposed that, On 05-10-2021, the accused was
    selling ganja near Lotte Gollahalli railway station,
    informed ACP, JC Nagar Sub-Division in writing as
    Ex.P5, obtained permission to proceed with the raid
    as per Ex.P6, issued notice to pancha witnesses
    namely CW2 and CW3 as Ex.P3, took the weighing
    machine and investigation kit from the station along
    with the staff and went to the place where the
    information was received. While doing so, he was
    caught, CW10 came to the spot and when the body of
    the accused was searched, there were 20 grams of
    ganja in 3 small packets, 7 plastic zip lock covers,
    490 grams of ganja in another cover, Rs.1,000/- cash
    and Aprela bike were seized through the raid
    panchanama as per Ex.P1. He produced the report
    before CW11 and identified the cover of 3 small
    packets of ganja as MO1, the ganja in another cover
    as Mo2, the envelope with 7 zip lock covers as MO3,
    the photograph of a note of Rs.1000/- of
    denomination as MO4.

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    iii. CW8 Smt. Sushmavathi, WHC, examined as
    PW3 deposed about submission of properties to FSL
    and submitted report to SHO as per Ex.P8 .

    iv. CW10 Smt. Reena Suvarana, APC examined
    as PW4 deposed that, on 05-10-2021, CW1 was
    found selling ganja, a narcotic substance, to the
    public near Lotte Gollahalli Railway Station and
    permission was sought. Later, permission was given
    to him to go to the spot and conduct a physical
    search. When the accused was searched, he was
    found to have 3 plastic envelopes with a total of 60
    grams of ganja, 7 zip lock envelopes and 490 grams of
    ganja, Rs.1000/- and two Rs. 500/- denomination
    notes. They seized the two-wheeler No. KA-04-KD-
    0843 were seized through Ex. P1.

    v. CW11 Sri Girish Naik, PSI, examined as
    PW5 deposed that, On 05-10-2021, CW1 received the
    written complaint and registered the case, submitted
    the report as per Ex.P11, along with the complaint,
    CW1 submitted the accused and the seized material
    objects, raid panchaname, permission letter obtained
    from the ACP during raid report and notice was given
    to the pancha witnesses, subjected the seized
    material objects to PF No.93/2021, informed the DCP
    and ACP about the success of raid, recorded the
    statements of witnesses, sent the narcotics for
    chemical examination through CW8 to FSL and sent

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    the receipt as per Ex.P8, FSL report as per Ex.P9. He
    said that the report and a copy of police station diary
    were obtained and placed in the file as Ex.P12 and on
    completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed
    against the accused.

    15. The charge levelled against accused under
    section 20(b) of NDPS Act.

    20. Punishment for contravention
    in relation to cannabis plant and
    cannabis-Whoever, in
    contravention of any provisions of
    this Act or any rule or order made
    or condition of licence granted
    thereunder,-

    (a) cultivates any cannabis plant;

              or
              (b)produces,           manufactures,
              possesses,      sells,   purchases,
    

    transports, imports inter-State,
    exports inter-State or uses
    cannabis, shall be punishable–

    (i)where such contravention
    relates to clause (a) with rigorous
    imprisonment for a term which
    may extend to ten years and shall
    also be liable to fine which may
    extend to one lakh rupees;

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    (ii)where such contravention
    relates to sub-clause (b),

    (A) and involves small quantity,
    with rigorous imprisonment for a
    term which may extend to one
    year, or with fine, which may
    extend to ten thousand rupees, or
    with both;

    That the accused was in possession of 550
    grams of ganja near Railway Station, Lottegollahalli,
    within the limits of Sanjay Nagara Police Station i.e.,
    public place thereby the burden of proof is upon the
    prosecution to prove that the accused was in
    possession of ganja with the said quantity of 550
    grams.

    16. It is the case of prosecution that the ganja
    was seized from the possession of accused in the
    public place which reads as under

    43. Power of seizure and arrest in
    public place-Any officer of any of
    the departments mentioned
    in section 42 may-

    (a) seize in any public place or in
    transit, any narcotic drug or

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    psychotropic substance or
    controlled substance in respect of
    which he has reason to believe an
    offence punishable under this Act
    has been committed, and, along
    with such drug or substance, any
    animal or conveyance or article
    liable to confiscation under this
    Act, any document or other article
    which he has reason to believe
    may furnish evidence of the
    commission of an offence
    punishable under this Act or any
    document or other article which
    may furnish evidence of holding
    any illegally acquired property
    which is liable for seizure or
    freezing or forfeiture under
    Chapter VA of this Act;

    (b) detain and search any person
    whom he has reason to believe to
    have committed an offence
    punishable under this Act, and if
    such person has any narcotic
    drug or psychotropic substance or
    controlled substance in his
    possession and such possession
    appears to him to be unlawful,

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    arrest him and any other person
    in his company.

    Explanation.–For the purposes of
    this section, the expression
    “public place” includes any public
    conveyance, hotel, shop, or other
    place intended for use by, or
    accessible to, the public.

    If the suspect is in possession of alleged
    contraband which is unlawful, the authorised officer
    can also arrest him or any other person in his
    company. Section 22 does not mandate a search
    warrant or authorisation. It does not also require
    recording of the grounds for his belief that if he does
    not act in haste, enter, seize and arrest the suspect
    would have concealed the evidence or escaped.
    Section 22 does not require the authorised officer to
    forward the written grounds of his belief to his
    immediate superior within seventy-two hours. All the
    aforesaid are requirements under Section 21.

    17. Section 57 of NDPS Act, 1985 which reads as
    under
    Report of arrest and seizure.–

    Whenever any person makes any
    arrest or seizure, under this Act,
    he shall, within forty-eight hours
    next after such arrest or seizure,

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    make a full report of all the
    particulars of such arrest or
    seizure to his immediate official
    superior.

    The arrest memo is not placed on record
    however it appears that the CW1 has called upon the
    ACP for body search as he has taken into custody at
    6.15 pm near Railway Station, Lottegollahalli, Sanjay
    Nagara, Bengaluru dated 05-10-2021 by informing
    his immediate superior about the arrest.

    18. It has been held in the case of State of
    Punjab Vs Balbir Singh
    reported in AIR 1994
    SUPREME COURT 1872 wherein it was held that the
    provision of Section 57 which deal with the steps to
    be taken by the officers after making arrest or seizure
    under Section 41 to 44 is by itself not mandatory and
    if there is non-compliance or if there are lapses like
    delay etc., then the same has to be examined to see
    whether any prejudice has been caused to the
    accused and such failure will have a bearing on the
    appreciation of evidence regarding arrest or seizure as
    well as on merits of the case. Thus it is essential to
    examine the case and see whether any prejudice was
    caused to the accused. The prosecution case cannot
    be thrown out on the failure of the prosecution to
    comply with the provisions of Section 57 of the NDPS
    Act, 1985 alone.

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    19. Section 50 of The Narcotic Drugs And
    Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

    50. Conditions under which
    search of persons shall be
    conducted.–

    (1) When any officer duly
    authorised under section 42 is
    about to search any person under
    the provisions of section 41,
    section 42 or section 43, he shall,
    if such person so requires, take
    such person without unnecessary
    delay to the nearest Gazette
    Officer of any of the departments
    mentioned in section 42 or to the
    nearest Magistrate.

    (2) If such requisition is made, the
    officer may detain the person
    until he can bring him before the
    Gazetted Officer or the Magistrate
    referred to in subsection (1).

    (3) The Gazette Officer or the
    Magistrate before whom any such
    person is brought shall, if he sees
    no reasonable ground for search,
    forthwith discharge the person

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    but otherwise shall direct that
    search be made.

    (4) No female shall be searched by
    anyone excepting a female.

    (5) When an officer duly
    authorised under section 42 has
    reason to believe that it is not
    possible to take the person to be
    searched to the nearest Gazetted
    Officer or Magistrate without the
    possibility of the person to be
    searched parting with possession
    of any narcotic drug or
    psychotropic substance, or
    controlled substance or article or
    document, he may, instead of
    taking such person to the nearest
    Gazette Officer or Magistrate,
    proceed to search the person as
    provided under section 100 of the
    Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
    (2 of 1974).

    (6) After a search is conducted
    under sub-section (5), the officer
    shall record the reasons for such
    belief which necessitated such
    search and within seventy-two

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    hours send a copy thereof to his
    immediate official superior.

    The ingredients of Section 50 of
    the NDPS Act, 1985 are:

    (i) The officer conducting the
    search must be an authorised
    officer under Section 42 of the
    NDPS Act, 1985.

    (ii) When such authorised officer
    is about to search any person he
    shall, “if such persons so
    requires” take such person
    without any unnecessary delay to
    the nearest Gazetted Officer of
    any of the departments mention
    in Section 42 or to the nearest
    Magistrate.

    (iii) When such a requisition is
    made the authorised officer has
    the power to detain the said
    person until he can bring him
    before the Gazetted Officer or the
    Magistrate.

    (iv) The Gazetted Officer or the
    Magistrate before whom such a
    person is brought “if he sees no
    reasonable ground for search”;

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    has has the power to forthwith
    discharge the person or otherwise
    direct the search be made.

    (v) No female shall be searched by
    anyone except a female.

    (vi) The authorised officer, if he
    has reason to believe that it is not
    possible to take the person to be
    searched to the nearest Gazetted
    Officer or Magistrate without the
    possibility of the person to be
    searched partying with possession
    of any narcotic drug or
    psychotropic substance, or
    controlled substance or article or
    document, he may, instead of
    taking such person to the nearest
    Gazetted Officer or Magistrate,
    proceed to search the person as
    provided under Section 100
    Cr.P.C.

    (vii) If the authorised officers
    proceeds to search as provided
    under Section 100 Cr.P.C then. In
    that case the said authorised
    officer must record the reasons for
    such belief and within 72 hours

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    sent a copy thereof to his
    immediate official superior.

    Section 50 of the NDPS Act, 1985 however,
    provides that when any officer duly authorized is
    about to search any person he shall, “if such person
    so requires” take such person without unnecessary
    delay to the nearest Gazetted Officer of any of the
    Departments mentioned in Section 42 or to the
    nearest Magistrate. Thus, under Section 50 of the
    NDPS Act, 1985 option must be given to the person to
    be searched. Though the PW4 (ACP) went to the spot
    on 05-10-2021 and found that the accused was in
    possession of the ganja however the permission letter
    to do body search of the accused does not disclose
    the timings when they obtained the consent of
    accused to do body search.

    20. CW2/PW1 pancha witness did not support
    the prosecution case. The presence of another pancha
    witness namely Sri Asgar Shariff s/o Noorullla Shariff
    (CW3) was not secured to prove the authenticity of
    Ex.P1 (seizure mahazar) thereby the alleged seizure of
    ganja measuring 550 grams and Rs.1000/- from
    custody of accused raises the doubt in the mind of
    this court about the authenticity. Thus, it is clear
    that the local inhabitants of the alleged spot was not
    made as witnesses to the Ex.P1 though CW2 and
    CW3 are from different locality as they are from

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    Bhoopasandra, however the spot is bounded on the
    East by towards Lottegollahalli railway gate road,
    West by Lottegollahalli railway track, North by vacant
    place beside railway track and south by
    Lottegollahalli railway station. None of persons who
    were working in the Lottegollahalli railway station
    were not made as a witnesses to the Ex.P1. The
    seizure mahazar was carried out is against the
    procedural law as per Section 100(4) of CRPC.

    21. It appears from the records the photographs
    or videograph were not taken at the time of alleged
    seizure to prove that the alleged ganja was seized
    from the possession of accused. The denomination of
    notes were not mentioned in the Ex.P1 to connect
    that the notes were seized from the possession of the
    accused.

    22. There is no explanation on the part of delay
    in making application under section 52A of NDPS Act
    for sampling before the Magistrate. There is no
    explanation for the inordinate delay by the PW4. The
    seizure mahazar was prepared on 05.10.2021, but
    the application for drawing the sample under Section
    52A
    before Magistrate was made on 18/10/2021 i.e.,
    after an inordinate delay of 13 days and further after
    inventories before the magistrate on 22/10/2021, the
    sample was sent on 29/10/2021 i.e., beyond the 72
    hours. In this regard, it is relevant to mention the

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    decision in the case of Union of India Vs Mohanlal
    reported in (2016) 3 SCC 379 wherein the Apex
    Court opines that the application to the Magistrate
    for sampling has to be moved immediately after
    seizure and in furtherance that samples were sent to
    FSL only on 31.07.2018, while Clause 1.13 of
    Standing Order 1/88 states that samples have to be
    sent to FSL within 72 hours from the date of seizure.
    The said clause reads as under:

    “1.13. Mode and Time limit for
    dispatch of sample to Laboratory:

    The samples should be sent either
    by insured post or through special
    messenger duly authorized for the
    purpose. Despatch of samples by
    registered post or ordinary mail
    should not be resorted to.

    Samples must be dispatched to
    the Laboratory within 72 hours of
    seizure to avoid any legal
    objection.”

    Thus relying on the decision of Apex Court in the
    case of Noor Aga Vs Stage of Punjab and another
    reported in (2008) 16 SCC 417 that the guidelines in
    the Standing Order cannot be flouted and should be
    substantially complied with.

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    23. No doubt, FSL report dated 18-03-2022 as
    per Ex.P9 depicts that the seized contraband sent for
    chemical examination contains positive for cannabis.
    In this context, it is well settled proposition of law by
    the Hon’ble Apex Court as well as by the Hon’ble High
    Court of Karnataka that the Investigating Agency has
    to follow the guidelines issued by the Narcotic Control
    Bureau column No.1.18 and there must have a
    quantitative and qualitative test within 15 days and
    further 15 days of seizure. The said procedure has
    been flouted by the Investigating agency.

    24. It is relevant to mention herein that though
    the PW2 and PW4 deposed that they have seized the
    ganja and cash from accused however after seizure of
    ganja, the ganja and seal SJN was in possession of
    Station House officer till the inventories were carried
    out on 22-10-2021 as per records.

    25. It appears from the alleged ganja was sent
    to FSL on 29-10-2021 even after the inventories were
    made before the Jurisdictional Magistrate by the
    PW5. So, the PW5 was in possession of ganja and the
    seal (SJN) so such being the case, there is all
    possibility of misuse of seal of the investigating
    officer. As per the version of prosecution witnesses,
    after sealing the property as the samples of ganja
    with the departmental seal and the same was in their
    possession. Thus, the seal was not handed over to

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    any independent witness. There is nothing on record
    to suggest that IO had made efforts to handover the
    seal to any independent witness. The seal remained
    with the police officials of same police station and
    therefore the possibility of tampering with the case
    property cannot be eschewed. Moreover, it is not even
    the case of the prosecution that the seal was not
    within the reach of Detecting officer or Investigating
    Officer and thus, there was no scope of tampering of
    case property. In this regard, it has been held in the
    case of Ramji Singh Vs. State of Haryana reported in
    2007 (3) RCR (CRIMINAL) 452 held in paragraph 7
    that:

    “….The very purpose of giving seal to
    an independent person is to avoid
    tampering of the case property. It is
    well settled that till the case property
    is not dispatched to the forensic
    science laboratory, the seal should not
    be available to the prosecuting agency
    and in the absence of such a
    safeguard the possibility of seal,
    contraband and the samples being
    tampered with cannot be ruled out.

    Similarly, Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in Safiulla Vs
    State
    reported in (1993) 49 DLT 193, had observed:

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    “9. … The seal after use were kept by
    the police officials themselves
    therefore the possibility of tempering
    with the contents of the sealed parcel
    cannot be ruled out. It was very
    essential for the prosecution to have
    established from stage to stage the
    fact that the sample was not tempered
    with. The prosecution could have
    proved from the CFSL form itself and
    from the road certificate as to what
    articles were taken from the
    Malkahana. Once a doubt is created
    in the preservation of the sample the
    benefit of the same should go to the
    accused…”….

    Thus, it is nowhere the case of prosecution that
    the seal after use was handed over to his superior
    officer. Even the I.O. has not uttered a word regarding
    the handing over of the seal after use to their superior
    officer. Therefore, the conclusion which can be
    arrived at is that the seal remained with the
    Investigating Officer or with the other member of the
    raiding party therefore the possibility of interference
    or tempering of the seal and the contents of the
    sample cannot be ruled out. Thus, the in light of the
    aforesaid discussion, the possibility of misuse of seal
    and tampering of case property cannot be ruled out.

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    26. Therefore the prosecution case is not free
    from contradictions, the benefit of such doubt which
    arisen from the case of prosecution shall be accorded
    to the accused and therefore, this court is of the view
    that the prosecution has not substantially proved
    beyond all reasonable doubts the allegations leveled
    against the accused thereby this court answers the
    above point No.1 in the negative.

    27. Point No.2:- For the foregoing discussion
    and the findings to the above point No.1, this court
    proceeds to pass the following:

    ORDER

    Acting U/Sec.248(1) of the Cr.P.C.

    (i) The accused is found not guilty
    and acquitted from the offence
    punishable Under Section 20(b) of
    NDPS Act.

    (ii) Accused is set at liberty.

    (iii) In view of Section 437-A of
    Cr.P.C his bail bond shall be in
    force for 6 (six) months.

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    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    (iv) MO1 and MO2 (samples) shall
    be sent for destruction to Disposal
    Committee after appeal period is
    over.

    (v) After expiry of appeal period,
    MO3 shall be destroyed and the
    seized amount of Rs.1000/-

    shown under PF No.93/2021
    shall be confiscated to State.

    (vi) After expiry of appeal period,
    the interim custody of vehicle
    bearing Reg.No.KA 04 KD 0843
    granted in favour of petitioner is
    made absolute.

    (vii) Ordered accordingly.

    (Dictated to the stenographer directly on computer, typed by steno, verified and
    corrected by me on my laptop, then the judgment pronounced by me in the open
    court, on this the 14th day of July, 2026)

    (Deepa.V.),
    VIII Addl. Chief Judicial
    Magistrate, Bengaluru City.

    25
    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    ANNEXURE

    Witnesses examined for prosecution :

    PW1 : Sri Syed Sadiq @ Syed Sami/Pancha
    witness
    PW2 : Sri Balaraj/Informant cum PI
    PW3 : Smt. Sushmavari/WPC
    PW4 : Smt. Reena Suvarna/ACP
    PW5 : Sri Girish Naik/PSI

    Documents marked on behalf of prosecution:

      Ex.P1   :     ದಾಳಿ ಪಂಚನಾಮೆ/PW1
      Ex.P2   :     Sample seal/PW1
      Ex.P3   :     ತಿಳುವಳಿಕೆ ಪತ್ರ/PW1
      Ex.P4   :     Statement of PW1
      Ex.P5   :     Seeking permission to raid on
    

    accused letter dtd:5-10-2021
    Ex.P6 : Permission letter 5-10-2021/PW2
    Ex.P7 : Complaint/PW2
    Ex.P8 : Report/PW3
    Ex.P9 : Seeking permission to search
    accused/PW4/
    Test Report on consent
    Ex.P10 : Notice/PW4
    Ex.P11: FIR/PW5
    Ex.P12: Copy of Station Diary/PW5

    26
    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    Material Objects marked on behalf of the
    prosecution:

      MO1-2        :   Samples
      MO3          :   7 empty plastic covers
      MO4          :   Photo
    
    

    Witnesses examined for defence: Nil

    Documents marked on behalf of defence: Nil

    VIII Addl. Chief Judicial
    Magistrate, Bengaluru City.

    27
    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    14-07-2026

    Judgment pronounced in the open court vide separately

    ORDER

    Acting U/Sec.248(1) of the Cr.P.C.

    (i) The accused is found not guilty
    and acquitted from the offence
    punishable Under Section 20(b) of
    NDPS Act.

    (ii) Accused is set at liberty.

    (iii) In view of Section 437-A of
    Cr.P.C his bail bond shall be in
    force for 6 (six) months.

    (iv) MO1 and MO2 (samples) shall
    be sent for destruction to Disposal
    Committee after appeal period is
    over.

    (v) After expiry of appeal period,
    MO3 shall be destroyed and the
    seized amount of Rs.1000/-

    shown under PF No.93/2021
    shall be confiscated to State.

    28
    KABC030395562022 CC15116/2022

    (vi) After expiry of appeal period,
    the interim custody of vehicle
    bearing Reg.No.KA 04 KD 0843
    granted in favour of petitioner is
    made absolute.

    (vii) Ordered accordingly.

    VIII ACJM, Bengaluru

    29



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