Aryan Khan Drug Case: All 8 accused, including Aryan Khan, have tested negative for COVID-19
Aryan Khan, son of movie star Shah Rukh Khan, has been denied bail in the Mumbai drugs-on-cruise case and will be spending the weekend in prison. He was sent to judicial custody by the Magistrate's court yesterday. Aryan Khan was supplied drugs by one of the other men arrested in the cruise ship drug bust, the anti-drugs agency said in court yesterday as it argued against the 23-year-old being given bail. On Monday, he was denied bail after his sensational arrest and was sent to the custody of anti-drugs agency Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) till yesterday by a Mumbai court.
Aryan Khan has been kept in the quarantine cell of Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. The women were taken to Byculla jail. All the eight accused, including Aryan Khan, have tested negative for COVID-19. But as per the new jail guidelines, new accused should be kept in the quarantine cell for seven days.
All eight were arrested on Sunday after the anti-drugs agency went undercover and raided a rave party on Saturday evening on the "Cordelia" cruise sailing from Mumbai to Goa.
The raids produced a haul of 13 grams of cocaine, 21 grams of charas, 22 pills of MDMA and 5 grams of MD, the anti-drugs bureau said. The drugs were found hidden in clothes, underwear and purses, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting an unnamed official of the anti-drugs bureau.
Here are the Live Updates on Mumbai Drug Bust Case involving Aryan Khan:
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
The Magistrate court has ruled "non-maintainability" because there are seizures (drugs) in the case (though not from Aryan Khan but from others). Hence, the case can be tried under the Sessions court. While Aryan Khan's lawyer said that nothing has been seized from him but the NCB, citing Rhea Chakraborty's case, argued that the accused cannot be bifurcated based on seizure and no-seizure in a single case.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
No bail for Aryan Khan, plea not maintainable, says court. Aryan Khan's lawyer will have to approach the Sessions Court for bail
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Court to announce operating part of the order, detailed order to come later.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing"To sum up, Milords can grant bail even in non-bailable offences as well. He is not going to tamper and there is no evidence against him," Satish Maneshinde argues for Aryan Khan.
(Bar and Bench)
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Satish Maneshinde says this is a case of no material against (Aryan) Khan.
"They held me for seven days. Even if they want to say I will tamper with evidence, they should come with a positive case of how I will do it.," he tells the court.
(Live Law)
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Aryan Khan's Lawyer Satish Maneshinde: How can I be part of the conspiracy when I did not know anyone but Arbaaz?
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Aryan Khan's Lawyer Satish Maneshinde: My learned friend referred to Rhea Chakraborty but in that case also we got bail. Unless you show material against me, you cannot hold me for a moment.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Aryan Khan's Lawyer Satish Maneshinde: Trials have to happen in special court but that does not bar magistrate from granting bail.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Aryan Khan's Lawyer Satish Maneshinde: I want to make it loud and clear to ask for bail as a matter of right. Inspite of the fact that offences are non-bailable, my argument is on a day when your honour grants judicial custody, prosecution cannot say you are not the regular court for bail...Your honour has full judicial discretion to grant bail.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing: Bail Will Hamper Probe, Says Additional Solicitor General
Additional Solicitor General: Here is a case where there is an involvement of 17 persons. Their connections, involvement, etc is there and investigation is at a preliminary stage. There will be interfering with witnesses. They are influential persons. There is a chance of tampering with evidence. Had it been one person found with small quantity it would be different . We have got a lot of material during investigation. Protection like bail at this stage will hamper the investigation.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: They cannot say they met at the terminal. They went in the same car.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: Their assembling there was not a coincidence.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Court: Can you disclose their specific chats that show their assembling?
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: They are regular users of contraband.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: I would request the court to decide on maintainability, but if you want me to argue on merits, I will.
Court: You must argue.
Additional Solicitor General: Okay I will argue on merits.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: You cannot segregate, you cannot say my case is separate.
Aryan Khan Bail HearingAdditional Solicitor General: My learned friend (Aryan Khan's lawyer) said yesterday that
chats were related to football. It actually refers to bulk quantity.
Aryan Khan Bail Hearing
Additional Solicitor General: If your lordship can grant remand, it does not mean your lordship can grant bail.
Aryan Khan Kept In Quarantine Cell of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail
Aryan Khan has been kept in the quarantine cell of Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. Though his RT-PCR report is negative, as per new jail guidelines, any new accused should be kept in quarantine cell for seven days.
Additional Solicitor General: Everybody is arguing as if we are opposing their right to claim bail. I am opposing their right to claim bail in this court. I am challenging the maintainability of their petition.
Now Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to reply to the arguments made by the defence lawyers Satish Maneshinde, Tarraq Sayyed and Ali Kashif Khan Deshmukh.
Ali Kashif Khan Deshmukh argues for Munmun Dhamecha (accused number 3)
Tarraq Sayyed: They claim they found 6gms of Charas. It is a clear case of consumption. They say I have given a statement that I was going to consume it on the ship. I was found in possession and I was to consume it. This court has ample powers. It's not only to remand a person to custody. If the court finds nothing against me they have the power to discharge me also
Tarraq Sayyed: I am unable to understand this. Their case is they have possession. If the CCTV footage shows that I am in possession I am shooting myself in the foot. But how can it prejudice the investigation unless it does not show the same. Best evidence must be presented. This has become a trend with the NCB. They arrest people without any connection and then they say we are investigating.
Tarraq Sayyed argues for accused number 2 Arbaaz Merchant: Evidence is insufficient to bring a charge that contains a sentence of life imprisonment or death. They say some seizure was made. I made an application for CCTV. NCB refused it. Why would they refuse it? They say CCTV would prejudice the investigation ? Why?
Satish Maneshinde: Nothing much has emerged in the five days and that is because there is nothing. I am from a respectable family and I am not likely to abscond. I am based in Mumbai. Accused who they say is connected to me is already in their custody.
Satish Maneshinde: I am 23-year old with no antecedents. I happen to be from Bollywood. When I reached there they searched me and nothing was found. They went through my mobile and they downloaded all the data. Mobile has been sent for forensic examination. From the first day till today nothing has emerged. Contact with Archit was revealed on first day and they took their own time. Their contention is I am required for confrontation. That has been rejected by the Supreme Court. Top Court says interrogation, investigation, confrontation can take place when someone is released on bail.
Satish Maneshinde: Supreme Court says don't play around with the fundamental rights of citizens. They should not stand on technicalities. They should go by merit. There is no case on merit.
Satish Maneshinde: A person should not be compelled to go to jail
Satish Maneshinde: I have been found with nothing. Not even one gram, one ounce and so much capital is being made out of it. Power to grant regular bail means power to grant interim bail
Satish Maneshinde: High Court has always been liberal in granting bail even though the prosecution always opposes it
Satish Maneshinde: Since I am not found in possession of anything I cannot be trucked with them
Satish Maneshinde: Not a single material to disclose any commit any conspiracy
Satish Maneshinde: No material has been found on me or in my bag
Satish Maneshinde: where is the material to prosecute?
Satish Maneshinde: It is well settled position that the offence is bailable and non-bailable according to my learned friend
Satish Maneshinde: There is not even material before your honour that makes a case for consumption except for the statement they took from me.
Satish Maneshinde quotes from a judgement which says there is an unhealthy practice to hear or grant bail.
Satish Maneshinde quotes from judgements.
Satish Maneshinde: There is no prohibition on this court.
Satish Maneshinde: JCM Court has the power to grant bail. Magistrate is competent to release an accused if the sentence for the offence alleged is not punishable with death or life imprisonment.
Satish Maneshinde: Law is supreme. Supreme Court interprets only in conflicts
Satish Maneshinde: If there is power to grant remand, it is inherent in the power of the court to grant bail.
Additional Solicitor General: My submission is that there are orders. Even in this case the position is same. There are 17 accused in the same. If the contention is that offence carries sentence less than a year.
Satish Maneshinde: if new, facts and new laws are brought...then...
Court: It has to be seen if the court is competent or not...we will decide on it.
Additional Solicitor General: At this stage accused cannot be segregated or bifurcated. The accused were arrested in a single crime
Aryan Khan, Others Being Taken To Jail From NCB Office
Aryan Khan and other accused are being taken to jail from NCB office, as per sources. After their medical they'll be sent to jail. Men will be sent to Arthur Road jail and women to Byculla jail.
NCB in reply : Bail applications are not maintainable and ill conceived
Additional Solicitor General: The present bail application is not maintainable in this court
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh begins arguments on maintainability of bail petitions (not merits) in the cruise ship drug seizure case.
Hearing on maintainability of bail petitions filed by the accused to begin shortly
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh now begins his arguments. First arguments on maintainability. Separate replies filed raising the issue of maintainability
NCB's reply filed in court, copies given to lawyers of accused
Satish Maneshinde: Till then I will read 437 . He can't stop me.
Court waiting for reply to be filed
Court: Where is your reply?
Additional Solicitor General: Reply is coming
Court: File your reply and give them a copy
Satish Maneshinde: Court has to decide on procedure
Court: Yes I will decide
Additional Solicitor General: Once I raise the issue of maintainability it is the duty of the court to hear the issue first
Additional Solicitor General: My argument is we have to decide on the maintainability first
Court: I will decide on it
Satish Maneshinde: We argued on law. They have their backs on their wall.
Additional Solicitor General: We are arguing on maintainability. If I raise the maintainability then the question of merits does not come into question.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh Arrives In Court
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh arrives in Court to argue against bail petition moved in the magistrate's court.
NCB Lawyers Yet To Arrive
Advocate Tarraq Sayyed informs court that the anti-drugs agency lawyers are on the way. Bail hearing to commence as soon as NCB lawyers arrive. NCB Special Counsel Advait Sethna's junior informs the court that they are just preparing the replies and they will be in court in ten to fifteen minutes. NCB Special Counsel Advait Sethna's junior informs the court that the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh is also on the way.
Lawyers For Accused Arrive In Mumbai Court
Lawyers for the accused Satish Maneshinde, Tarraq Sayyed and Ali Kashif Khan Deshmukh arrive in court.
Nigerian National Arrested In Drugs-On-Cruise Case, Total Accused Now 18The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested a Nigerian national in connection with the alleged seizure of drugs from a Goa-bound cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.
This has taken the number of arrested persons in the case -- which includes Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan -- to 18.
Nigerian national Chinedu Igwe was arrested from suburban Andheri on Wednesday, and 40 tablets of Ecstasy were found from his possession, an NCB official said.
"BJP Leader's In-Law Freed After Drugs Bust, Proof Friday": NCP LeaderNationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik has said he will release evidence today to show that one of the people detained and later released by the Narcotics Control Bureau or NCB after the Mumbai drugs bust in a cruise ship was the in-law of a BJP leader.
The country's anti-drugs agency has been running a "network" in Mumbai for the last one year "for only and only publicity," Mr Malik told NDTV on Thursday, hours after superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan, was taken under judicial custody for a bail hearing in the drugs bust case.
"My Life is Under Threat In Maharashtra": BJP Worker After Drugs BustThe involvement of a BJP worker and a private detective in the raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast by India's anti-drugs agency has kicked up a controversy. The Narcotics Control Bureau or NCB conducted the raid on Sunday and arrested eight people, including actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan. The NCB said drugs like ecstasy and cocaine, among others, were found at a party on the cruise ship.
Days later, videos of the raid surfaced online showing the two men escorting those who were detained that night into the NCB office.