The Narcotic Control Bureau got the custody of Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, extended till October 7 from the court.
On Monday, the agency told the magistrate that Aryan was not found in possession of the drugs. They needed him in their custody to recover evidence and aims toward international drugs trafficking found in Aryan’s phone conversations. Along with Aryan Khan, seven others were arrested on the same day, and they have also been sent in custody till October 7.
According to Aryan Khan’s lawyer, the Narcotic Control Bureau has not provided any kind of evidence that connects him to the drugs which were seized from the cruise party on Saturday, but the agency claimed that they had recovered drugs, and seven people were arrested from the cruise. Three more arrests took place on October 4, which included one of the passengers from the ship.
The agency said that they have Aryan’s custody only for two days. On behalf of NCB, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, the Union government’s senior-most law officer in Maharashtra, appeared before the court, kept his side, and provided the information about the materials found from Aryan Khan’s phone. He added that the agency found the photos and chats which are pointing towards international drug trafficking, many characters who are suspicious, and their identities are still unknown.
As evidenced by Aryan Khan’s chats and regarding the modes of payment discussed in the chats, it is clear that the drugs were purchased in bulk. NCB also found different code names in the search process. The agency believes that they must make the accused confront another person, and the agency also suspects the international link of transaction.
According to NCB, the chats are dated July 2021, when the accused, Aryan Khan, was in the United States for his studies, and the agency found the suppliers and financiers relevant due to the chats. While granting the custody extension, R M Nerlikar, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, said that some people were found in possession of the drugs, and Aryan Khan, Munmun Dhamecha, and Arbaz Merchant were involved in that. It is important that the investigation is carried out thoroughly so that that it becomes clear who all are innocent, and who have broken the law.
Satish Maneshinde, Aryan’s counsel, said that Aryan Khan did not even board the cruise while the search took place; the agency found 6 grams of charas from Arbaz Merchant, and Aryan is not linked to that in any way. The other two friends whom Aryan was accompanied by were allowed to leave, but NCB took only Aryan’s phone.
Narcotics Control Bureau claimed that they had seized mephedrone from the drug peddler arrested on Monday, and the mephedrone is worth Rs 5 Lakh; they were also found carrying hydroponic weed. One of the drug peddlers has been identified as Shreyas Nair, who used to supply drugs to the passengers, and the officials have found the web of payment made with the bitcoins.
The NCB will also question the organizers of the cruise party as they want to know how Arbaz Merchant received a free ticket to the event. More arrests can be made in the case by Narcotics Control Bureau.
Till now, Narcotics Control Bureau claims to have recovered 5 grams of charas from Munmun Dhamecha, 6 grams of charas from Arbaz Merchant, 14 MDMA pills from Gomit Chopra, 5 grams of mephedrone,10 grams of cocaine from Ismeet Singh, and 3 grams of cocaine and four pills of MDMA from Nupur Satija. The agency also added that Mohak Jaswal used to provide the drugs and pills to Nupur Satija.
