Three sentenced to 14 years for drug peddling in Bengaluru

Three men in Bengaluru have been sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug peddling. The special court also ordered them to pay a fine of 1.5 lakh rupees each. The men, Syed Yarab, Shabaz Khan, and Imran Pasha, are all residents of JJ Nagar. Another accused, Imran Khan, was found not guilty. The three men have been in custody at Bengaluru Central Prison since January 2023. The judge noted that they were involved in illegal drug activities that harm young people. He stated that the severity of their actions warranted a long prison sentence. On January 2, 2023, police caught the trio with 1 kilogram of ganja, 22 LSD strips, and 25 grams of methamphetamine and ketamine. They were seized at a playground in Chamarajpet, where they were planning to sell drugs to students. During the trial, public prosecutor KV Ashwath Narayana mentioned that over 15 witnesses testified. Some witnesses initially changed their statements but were cross-examined effectively. The three men admitted to purchasing drugs from the fourth suspect, Khan. However, police found no evidence at his home to link him to the drug sales, which led to his acquittal. The convicted men will face an additional year in jail if they fail to pay the fine.