NDPS Act | 'Smalltime Peddlers Are Caught, Not The Real Culprits Running Drug Syndicates' : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday remarked that in NDPS cases, smalltime drug peddlers are mostly caught and not the real culprits who run drug syndicates. The Court's verbal comment came while granting bail to an undertrial in an NDPS Act case.

The case from the State of Madhya Pradesh related to the alleged recovery of opium from the accused. When the State opposed the bail plea, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud remarked, "You are catching small time peddlers but not the not real culprits. Go after those who are running drug syndicates".

The bench led by the CJI noted that the accused has already spent five years in jail and the maximum term of punishment was ten years. Also, the contraband, opium in the case, was allegedly recovered from his farm field and he was not found to be transporting it. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, representing the state, highlighted that the accused has a record of previous convictions.

However, the bench allowed bail to the accused.

Case : Sabir vs State of Madhya Pradesh]

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