Cordelia Cruises says not ‘connected’ to raid, extends support to NCB probe

Cordelia Cruises, which are operated by the Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd, on Sunday distanced itself from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid on one of its ships off Mumbai on Saturday night. Bolllywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s 23-year-old son Aryan Khan was among eight people who were detained during the NCB raid. Aryan and two others were arrested on Sunday by the NCB after questioning and will now be presented before a court.

ALSO READ: Who is Arbaz Merchant?

Jurgen Bailom, President and CEO of the Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd, added that it had chartered its ship for a private event to a Delhi-based event management company.

“By means of this statement, I wish to express that Cordelia Cruises is in no way, directly or indirectly, connected to this incident,” Bailom said. Bailom said the company will extend full will cooperate with authorities in the probe.

ALSO READ: Who is Sameer Wankhede?

“Cordelia Cruises is extremely mindful of providing wholesome entertainment to families who choose to travel with us. This incident is contrarian and far from the culture that Cordelia Cruises represents,” the statement added.

The eight people who were detained by NCB include Munmun Dhamecha, Nupur Sarika, Ismeet Singh, Mohak Jaswal, Vikrant Chhoker, Gomit Chopra, Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant. The central agency has reportedly seized drugs such as cocaine, LSD, hashish and MD from the ship. NCB has registered an FIR in connection with the drugs party, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. Based on a tip-off, an NCB team, led by its zonal director Sameer Wankhede, had raided the Goa-bound Cordelia cruise ship on Saturday evening and recovered drugs from some of the passengers, the official said.

The suspects had hidden the drugs in their clothes, undergarments and purses (by women). The detained persons will be produced in a court later in the day after the legal formalities get over, the NCB official said. The NCB had launched a probe into the alleged drug use in Bollywood after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.