The appellant, Vikram Malhotra @ Vicky (Accused No. 2), challenged his conviction by the Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad, under Sections 8(c), 21(b), and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, for which he was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 20,000. The prosecution alleged that on 11.12.2011, six small packets of cocaine (approximately one gram each) were recovered from his possession during a search conducted near Civil Supplies Bhavan, Hyderabad. The appellant's counsel argued that mandatory safeguards under Sections 42, 50, 52, 55, and 57 of the NDPS Act were not complied with, that the notice under Section 50 was not served individually upon the appellant, that the Gazetted Officer present belonged to the same department, and that independent panch witnesses turned hostile, rendering the prosecution evidence unreliable. The judgment text as provided does not record the final order of the High Court, as the text is incomplete.