Supreme Court Acquits Driver of Taxi in Which Contraband Was Seized: 'Taxi Driver Not Expected to Give Passenger Details Under NDPS Act'

The court while setting aside the conviction noted that the prosecution failed to prove that the contraband belonged to the Appellant; moreover, no efforts were made by the investigation agency to find out the absconding passengers who ran away after seeing the police.

- 

The Supreme Court in the case Sri Shankar Dongarisaheb Bhosale Versus the State Of Karnataka observed and has acquitted a taxi driver who was implicated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, NDPS Act, solely for failing to provide details of passengers who had carried contraband in his taxi.

The court in the case held that an inability of taxi driver to provide details of passengers carrying contraband could not justify implicating or convicting him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, NDPS Act, as it is unreasonable to expect drivers to know such details.