Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, has been sent to custody till Thursday, October 7, a day after he and seven others in the cruise ship drugs case last evening off the coast of Mumbai by the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The anti-drugs agency NCB had sought longer custody of Aryan Khan. "Need him in custody till October 11 for questioning him," said the agency. "Unless we investigate the consumer how do we know who is the supplier, who is financing it?" the agency told the court, contending that an international cartel is apparently involved in the case.
The 23-year-old argued that he was a special invitee to the cruise ship and "cannot be roped in with the entire seizure in the case".
The high-profile raid on Sunday yielded 13 grams of cocaine, 21 grams of charas, 22 pills of MDMA and 5 grams of MD in all, the NCB has said. The charges brought against Aryan Khan include purchase, possession and use of banned substances, it added.
Here are the Highlights on Mumbai Drug Bust Case involving Aryan Khan:
Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan's longer custody sought by narcotics agency, alleges drugs bust linked to international cartel
"Nothing is recovered from me. They have recovered WhatsApp chats from July 21 and even if I consume it's not under investigation in this case. There is no WhatsApp chat here, there is no recovery,"said Aryan Khan's lawyer
"A person has been in regular touch with someone, it's not irrelevant to finding out who is behind this. Everybody does not keep drugs with themselves. You went with a group of persons found with drugs and you had contact with those giving you drugs," Anil Singh for NCB.
Aryan Khan argued that he was a special invitee to the cruise ship and "cannot be roped in with the entire seizure in the case". "They say they have found conversation on the phone which leads them to international drug trade. In my entire stay aboard I was not involved any drug usage," said senior advocate Satish Manshinde, appearing for Aryan Khan.
"The remand application is misleading," said Aryan Khan's lawyer
The drugs were recovered from suspects who had concealed them in their clothes, undergarments and purses, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting an unnamed official of the Narcotics Control Bureau. Besides Aryan Khan, seven others were arrested shortly after the drugs-control team boarded the Goa-bound ship, disguised as passengers. According to officials, the party started after the ship left Mumbai.
Aryan Khan has been accused of purchase, possession and use of banned substances, the agency has said. He was also seen in a viral video on social media allegedly shot after the raids.
"Argument is being made that my client is involved in international drug trade. The Allegation is that I was making payment so I am financing. Financing is not defined under the act. It is described in the dictionary. Transactions do not amount to financing,"said Aryan Khan's lawyer in court
"There is no substantial evidence to suggest accused is a peddler or supplier," said Aryan Khan's lawyer in court.
Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan's longer custody sought by narcotics agency, alleges drugs bust linked to international cartel