Khammam court sentences two to 20 years in prison, each get Rs 2 lakh fine in ganja case

In Khammam, two men were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined Rs 2 lakh each for their involvement in smuggling 200 kg of ganja and causing a fatal accident. The incident, which took place in April 2021 near V Venkatapalem, resulted in the deaths of an auto-rickshaw driver and a passenger.

Khammam: The first additional district and sessions court Judge K Umadevi on Tuesday sentenced two persons to 20 years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each in ganja smuggling and accident case.

According to the prosecution, on April 28, 2021 the accused were caught transporting 200 kg of ganja worth Rs 30 lakh in a car at V Venkatapalem near Khammam. While trying to avoid inspection at a police check post, they drove the car at high speed and hit an auto-rickshaw with passengers.

---

The auto driver and a passenger died while some others were injured in the accident. Later, when the car was inspected, the police found 100 packets of ganja. Two accused were taken into custody while another accused fled the scene.

The police registered a case against the accused at Raghunadhapalem police station under Sections 304(A) (causing death by negligence), 338 (causes grievous hurt), 337 of IPC and Section 8(c) read with 20(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985.

The police filed a charge sheet in the court against the accused Mallesh alias Naik Mallesh of Dundigal, Gandimaisamma area of Hyderabad and Gaddam Buvan alias Yeruguntla Ravi Teja of Korutla in Jagtial district. As the accused were proven guilty, the judge gave the verdict. Another accused Ishaq of Gandimaisamma in Hyderabad was absconding.

Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt appreciated the investigating officers the then Inspector P Satyanarayana Reddy, present Inspector Usman Sharif, additional Public Prosecutors A Shankar, J. Sarath Kumar Reddy, SI Srinivas, court constables G Ravi Kishore, Sambasiva Rao, court liaison officer K. Srikanth (SI) and Home Guard MD Ayub.