Aryan Khan’s bail plea in drugs case rejected
MUMBAI: A special Mumbai court on Wednesday denied bail to Aryan Khan, saying there was prima facie evidence that the 23-year-old son of actor Shah Rukh Khan was indulging in “illicit drug activities” on a regular basis, and could commit a similar offence if released.
Aryan, who was arrested on October 3 during a raid on a cruise ship in Mumbai, moved the Bombay high court for bail shortly afterwards. His friends, Arbaaz Merchant, 26, and model Munmun Dhamecha, 28, were also denied bail by the special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court.
The three are among 20 persons arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with a drugs raid conducted aboard a holiday cruise en route to Goa. Though nothing was recovered from Aryan, Merchant purportedly admitted to carrying 6 grams of charas in a plastic pouch tucked away in his shoe.
“Perusal of papers shows that though nothing was found in possession of accused no. 1 (Aryan), 6 grams of charas was found with accused no. 2 (Arbaaz) which was concealed in his shoes,” the court said.
It further held that the two are long-time friends who were apprehended together, and based on their voluntary statements the charas found on Merchant was for their consumption. “Therefore, it can be said that the contraband material was in conscious possessions of both the accused,” the court said.
In his 21-page order, special NDPS judge VV Patil noted that WhatsApp chats of Aryan prima facie revealed that he was “dealing in illicit drug activities on a regular basis” and therefore it cannot be said that he was not likely to commit a similar offence if released on bail.
The judge accepted NCB’s argument that all the accused were part of a large drug network, and Aryan’s WhatsApp chats showed that he was in touch with a foreign national and unknown persons dealing in drugs, and there were references to hard drugs and bulk quantity.
“In the case at hand, material placed on record reveals that there is incriminating material in the form of WhatsApp chats etc. which show the nexus of the applicant / accused no. 1 with suppliers and peddlers,” the judge said. In Aryan’s WhatsApp chats, there is reference to “bulk quantity” and “hard drugs” and “there is prima facie material showing that accused No 1 was in contact with persons dealing in prohibited narcotic substances”, the order added.
All 20 persons, which includes Delhi-based event management professionals, Nigerian nationals, and Mumbai-based drug peddlers, have been arrested under various sections of the NDPS Act.
Aryan and Merchant are lodged at Arthur Road jail, while Dhamecha is lodged at the women’s prison in Byculla.
The bail request for Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, and two others in connection with the seizure of banned drugs on a cruise was denied by special court in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Special Judge VV Patil, designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, rejected the bail pleas of Aryan Khan, his friend Arbaaz Merchant and model Munmun Dhamecha. They will have to approach the Mumbai High Court for bail.
The trio was arrested on October 3 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for alleged conspiracy, possession, consumption, purchase and trafficking of drugs.
Aryan and the others have been booked for offences under Sections 8(c), 20(b), 27, 28, 29 and 35 of the NDPS Act. They are presently in judicial custody. While Aryan and Arbaaz are at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai, Munmun is lodged at the Byculla women’s prison in Mumbai.
Aryan had, in his bail plea, said NCB’s contention that he was involved in conspiracy and illicit drug trafficking was absurd, and pointed out that there was no recovery of drugs made from him. NCB, however, opposed the plea and said Aryan had been consuming drugs for a few years now and was in touch with some persons, who appear to be a part of an international drug network for procurement of drugs. The agency was relying on WhatsApp chats of Aryan, which they claim point towards procurement of bulk quantities of drugs.
NCB had argued that the recovery of six grams of charas from his friend Arbaaz points to conscious possession by Aryan.