BALWINDER SINGH vs ASSTT.COMMNR.,CUSTOM & CENTRAL EXCISE — Crl.A. No. 547/2004

Case Summary: Crl.A. No. 547/2004 - Balwinder Singh v. Assistant Commissioner, Customs & Central Excise The Supreme Court heard two consolidated appeals arising from NDPS Act convictions related to a 1988 drug seizure (175 kg heroin and 39 kg opium found in truck PJA 8677). The Court allowed Balwinder Singh's appeal and acquitted him, finding insufficient evidence that he knowingly possessed or controlled the vehicle, despite being its registered owner—he had sold it to a third party in 1986 before the seizure. Conversely, the Court dismissed the concurrent appeal of Tarlochan Singh (the vehicle driver), upholding his conviction as he admitted knowledge of the drugs and illegal transport, but reduced his sentence from 14 years to 10 years imprisonment with concurrent sentences. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.