In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's conviction of Jeet Ram for drug trafficking under the NDPS Act, reversing the trial court's acquittal. Thirteen kilograms of charas (hashish) were seized from a dhaba owned by Ram's wife where he worked. The Court held that appellate courts have full power to reappreciate evidence in acquittal appeals and can overturn trial court findings if erroneous. Ram's presence at the counter, his wife's ownership of the premises, and the narcotic's location in a gunny bag at the counter established knowing possession. However, the Court reduced his sentence from 15 years to 10 years, considering his age (65), his claimed status as a temple priest, and that the incident occurred in 2001.
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