Rajkot: A special NDPS court in Junagadh convicted a 62-year-old man, Narsi Khakhas, sentencing him to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 for illegally growing cannabis at his home.The verdict was pronounced by additional sessions judge A R Rana. Delivering the judgment, the court held that drug trafficking and illicit cultivation of narcotic substances pose a grave threat to society and the nation’s youth.According to prosecution records, Junagadh special operations group (SOG) received a tip-off on Oct 6, 2023, regarding illicit cannabis cultivation at a residence in Osa (Ghed) village of Mangrol taluka. Police then carried out a raid on the premises.During the search, the authorities discovered 34 cannabis plants growing in the courtyard, weighing approximately 17.kg, as well as 630g of dried cannabis stored in a wooden box in the residence, for to a total seizure value of Rs 1.79 lakh. Field tests by Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials confirmed the seized material to be cannabis. An offence under the NDPS Act was registered at Shil police station.The court observed that the testimony from the local talati-cum-mantri confirmed that the accused had occupied and maintained the house for the past several years. The court noted that fully grown cannabis plants standing up to 4.5 to 8 feet in one’s immediate courtyard cannot go unnoticed without conscious possession.Chemical analysis reports from the directorate of forensic science in Gandhinagar, conclusively identified the seized plants and flowering tops as cannabis containing active narcotic components.
