In Brief
The appellant was convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1,50,000, including a three-year default sentence. The High Court reduced the substantive sentence to 12 years but retained the fine, reducing the default to two years. The Supreme Court further reduced the substantive sentence to 10 years and the default sentence to six months, considering the appellant's poor financial circumstances and family dependents. The Court held that such modulation served the ends of justice, and ordered the appellant's immediate release.
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