Bhubaneswar, February 27: The Bhubaneswar ADJ Court-2 has sentenced drug peddler Bibhuti Bhusan Jena to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh for offenses under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Additional Sessions Judge Miss Bandana Kar pronounced the verdict today, convicting Jena under Sections 21(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. If Jena fails to pay the fine, he will face an additional year of rigorous imprisonment.
Case Background:
The case dates back to June 2020, when Urmila Mallik, Inspector of Police at STF, Bhubaneswar, filed an FIR with the Superintendent of Police, STF, CID & CB, Odisha. The FIR detailed reliable information about two individuals, Ajaya Mohapatra and Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, who were reportedly transporting contraband brown sugar on a motorcycle and heading toward the Kalinga Vihar crossing on NH-16 around 6 PM.
Upon receiving the tip-off, Mallik and her police team intercepted the suspects at the location. Following the prescribed procedures under the NDPS Act, authorities seized 1 kg 12 gm of brown sugar, worth approximately Rs. 2 crore. After the investigation, both suspects were charged under Sections 21(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Trial and Conviction:
During the trial, the prosecution presented 12 witnesses and exhibited 29 documenentary evidence. The co-accused, Ajaya Mohapatra, absconded, leading to a split case. Based on the available evidence, Judge Bandana Kar convicted Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh, with the condition that failure to pay would result in an additional year of imprisonment.
Special Public Prosecutor Rashmi Ranjan Brahma played a key role in securing the conviction with her diligent efforts.
Noteworthy Development:
Since July 2022, Bhubaneswar's district and session courts have adopted a strict approach, denying bail applications for individuals accused of drug trafficking. This firm stance, backed by District Judge Nishith Nisanka, follows significant public demand for tougher action on drug-related crimes. Special Public Prosecutor Rashmi Ranjan Brahma has strongly opposed the bail of drug peddlers in court, further reinforcing this approach.
