Jagdish Rai vs State Of Punjab

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Jagdish Rai under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, affirming the High Court's finding of conscious possession of opium. The Court reasoned that the appellant's attempt to flee upon seeing the police indicated awareness of the contraband carried by his pillion rider, Ajaib Singh. The judgment emphasized the applicability of Sections 35 and 54 of the Act, which allow for presumptions regarding possession of illicit substances, thereby confirming the conviction and sentence of 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine.