Mumbai Men Get 10 Years for Ganja Possession, Court Dismisses Leniency Plea

Mumbai, Maharashtra: A Special Court in Mumbai has sentenced two men to 10 years in prison for possessing and attempting to sell 17 kg of ganja, emphasizing that the punishment serves as a deterrent to drug-related crimes. The accused, Indrakumar Mallya Surram (40) and Kartik Ramalingam Naik (34), were arrested in August 2010 at a bus stop in Kandivali East while attempting to sell narcotics.

The Anti-Narcotics Cell set up a trap and seized 10 kg of ganja from Surram and 7 kg from Naik. They also found cash suspected to be the proceeds from the sale. The defense argued procedural lapses, such as missing dates and flaws in labeling, but the court dismissed these claims, stating the investigation was thorough. The court rejected the accused's plea for leniency, noting that their actions demonstrated a willingness to harm others for personal gain.

The ruling highlighted that such severe sentences are essential to discourage drug trafficking, with the court also pointing out that the quantity of drugs seized was inconsistent with personal use, indicating a clear intent to sell.