Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Kartar Singh has acquitted Usha Rani, wife of Baljinder of Ludhiana and Rani, wife of Sat Paul of Hoshiarpur, who were facing trial for smuggling of poppy straw as no witness supported the prosecution.
According to the police case, on November 17, 2009, Usha Rani and Rani were found traveling in a vehicle bearing registration No. 1310-JK-14B from Udhampur to Jammu. During the checking of the vehicle, police recovered 13 kilograms of poppy straw from their possession.
On this, a case was registered and after completion of investigation challan was presented in the court of law. On December 12, 2011 the accused moved an application for confessing their guilt and their statements were also recorded in support of it in which they admitted all the allegations made against them in the challan.
However, the Presiding Officer did not feel satisfied with the confession of the accused and directed the prosecution to lead evidence. The prosecution was afforded number of opportunities but not even a single witness has been examined and ultimately vide order dated July 23, 2013, the prosecution evidence was closed.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge Jammu Kartar Singh observed, “there is no incriminating evidence worth the name against the accused except their confessions which cannot be relied upon”, adding “not even a single witness has been leaving the court with no other alternative except to disbelieve the confessions made by the accused”.
Accordingly, both the accused were acquitted of all the prosecution allegations for want of evidence.
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