Prabhu Lal Son of Shri Tulsiram v. State of Rajasthan
Case brief
What is this about?
Suspension of sentence applications dismissed (SOSA(A) 80/2024, 1767/2023, 1769/2023 in appeals 731-733/2023); Rajasthan HC Jaipur; Ashok Kumar Jain, J.; order 08.04.2025. Conviction 10.04.2023, Sessions Case 18/2017, Spl. Judge NDPS Jaipur Metro-I; FIR 06/2017 P.S. SOG Jaipur. Rajaram & Dharampal convicted under S.8/18 NDPS Act; Prabhu Lal & Arun Kumar under S.8/29 NDPS Act; 10 yrs RI + Rs. 1 lac fine each. 4 kg opium (commercial quantity) recovered from Bolero Car RH-22-E-4977 at Kanwaliyas toll-booth checkpoint; conscious possession; opium sourced from Prabhu Lal. Custody: Rajaram >5 yrs 10 mths, Dharampal >5 yrs 11 mths (>50%), Prabhu Lal 2 yrs 1 mth, Arun Kumar ~2 yrs; earlier interim releases: Prabhu Lal (Coordinate Bench, 03.03.2017), Rajaram (Supreme Court, 02.12.2020). Key statute: S.37 NDPS Act mandatory compliance for commercial quantity; also S.313 Cr.P.C., Art. 21 (as invoked in precedent discussion). Precedents: NCB v. Lakhwinder Singh (2025) INSC 190 (distinguished — benefit not conferred); NCB v. Mohit Agarwal, Crl.A. 1001-1002/2022 (relied — custody length not a ground); NCB v. Kashif, 2024 INSC 1045 (relied — literal interpretation, scheme/object/purpose, S.37 mandatory); Dadu (2000) 8 SCC 437 (referred by State). Outcome: all four applications dismissed; appeals to be heard Aug. 2025.