Quick Summary: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, led by Judge K.K. Ramakrishnan, has confirmed the acquittal of Gangadeva, who was accused of having 21 kg of marijuana. The state's appeal was dismissed because there wasn't enough evidence.
This case started when the police at Alingaram Police Station got a tip about illegal marijuana possession. On December 8, 2021, they raided a place in Theni District and found 21 kg of marijuana. Two people were arrested there, but Gangadeva, the main suspect, wasn't there.
Gangadeva turned himself in on June 22, 2023. The police charged him under specific sections of the NDPS Act, which deals with drug offenses. The case was handled by the Principal Special Court for EC & NDPS Act Cases in Madurai.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence through witnesses and documents. However, there was no direct evidence connecting Gangadeva to the crime. The confession from the other accused person couldn't be used, and no marijuana was found on Gangadeva. The trial court declared Gangadeva not guilty on October 30, 2023.
The state, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. T. Senthil Kumar, appealed the decision to declare Gangadeva not guilty. They argued that Gangadeva supposedly ran away from the crime scene. However, the court found no strong evidence against him.
Gangadeva's lawyer, Mr. S. Balaji, argued that there was no solid evidence linking his client to the marijuana. He highlighted that Gangadeva wasn't there during the raid and had an alibi because he was in the hospital for a leg injury.
Judge K.K. Ramakrishnan concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to change the decision of not guilty. The court noted the lack of proof that Gangadeva was at the crime scene and confirmed the trial court's decision.
The appeal was dismissed, and the decision of not guilty was confirmed, allowing Gangadeva to go free.
