Visakhapatnam: R. Appala Naidu, 27, tried to commit suicide by slashing his throat in an open court hall in Vizag city on Monday.
S. Nagarjuna, the Metropolitan Session Judge sentenced Naidu and six others to 14 years imprisonment in a ganja smuggling case under NDPA-Act. The moment judge declared the punishment, the convict Appala Naidu took out a knife from his shirt and slashed his throat.
He was severely injured and was rushed to KG Hospital in Vizag city where his condition is said to be critical. He is a resident of MK Patnam area in Vizag district.
Kothakota sub-inspector D. Sekharam said, he was arrested by Kothakota police along with seven others in October 2016 for smuggling around 300 kgs of dry ganja. Later he was released from the central prison on bail.
The judge acquitted two persons and sentenced six accused including Appala Naidu and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh each following which he decided to end his life, Vizag Two-Town police station Inspector G.V. Ramana said.