Ex-Policeman convicted in heroin and counterfeit currency case in Handwara

Handwara, Oct 25: The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Handwara convicted former policeman Mushtaq Ahmad Pir, son of Abdul Ahad Pir, a resident of Kalmoona Tarathpora, in a long-drawn case involving narcotic smuggling and possession of counterfeit currency. The court found Pir guilty under Sections 8/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Section 489-C of the Ranbir Penal Code after a detailed trial spanning several years.

The case stemmed from an incident on July 12, 2019, when a police team stationed at Watayen, Handwara, intercepted a Santro car bearing registration number JK01V-1178. The vehicle was being driven by the accused, who was then serving in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Department. During the search, police recovered a packet containing a brown sugar-like substance hidden inside the car’s air filter. The contraband, later confirmed through FSL examination to be heroin, weighed approximately 750 grams.

Following Pir’s interrogation, a further disclosure led to a raid at his residence in Kalmoona, where an additional 40 grams of heroin and counterfeit currency amounting to about seven and a half lakh rupees were recovered. The fake notes, printed with the markings “Manoranjan Bank” and “Children Bank of India,” were found bundled beneath bedding material.

The prosecution examined 21 witnesses, including investigating officers, constables, and the executive magistrate who oversaw the sampling of the seized substance. The witnesses’ statements, seizure memos, and forensic reports collectively established the chain of evidence, leaving little room for doubt. The defense, however, argued that the search lacked independent witnesses and that the alleged disclosure statement was obtained while the accused was in custody, but the court rejected these arguments, citing the consistency of official testimonies and documentary proof.

In his judgment, the Additional Sessions Judge described the accused’s conduct as a grave breach of duty and public trust, emphasizing that a police officer engaging in drug trafficking and circulating fake currency undermines the integrity of law enforcement. The court held Pir guilty beyond a reasonable doubt under both charges and convicted him accordingly.

The sentence is likely to be pronounced soon, with the court indicating that the offence under the NDPS Act carries a stringent punishment. [KNT]