Nov 05: Today a special court in Jodhpur while deciding a complaint filed by Om Prakash Bishnoi against former External Affairs minister Jaswant Singh of offering opium during a family function in Barmer ordered Baltora police station to have a probe of the case and said to decide whether to pursue charges after that only.
Jaswant Singh and other nine BJP leaders have been accused of violation of the provisions of the Narcotics Drug & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 due to possession of drug illegally. Bishnoi, a resident of Jodhpur in his complaint against him said that he along with other BJP members should be punished under section 8, 17, 18 and 27 of the Act.
Singh had allegedly hosted a group of politicians in his native village with the drink. Though the former external affairs minister saying that the drink was just a preparation of tea and sugar having no opium content has denied the charges.
Under laws it is illegal to consume more than five grams of opium and punishable offence. The person when proved guilty may face imprisonment of 10 years.
This is to be known that opium consumption by mixing it with milk is said to be a traditional drink in Rajasthan especially in the western area of the state and is ceremonial to serve on auspicious occasions such as birth and wedding. Even a small amount is offered to the newly born child too. But increasingly this ceremony is also turning into a problem due to easy availability.
Acceptance of such drink is considered to be cementing the bond between the host and guest.
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