Shah Rukh Khan has hired a new lawyer, Amit Desai, to represent son Aryan Khan in the Mumbai cruise drugs case. Aryan’s bail plea hearing will take place on Wednesday, October 13.

Also Read: Cruise drugs case: Special court to hear Aryan Khan’s bail plea on Oct 13; seeks NCB’s reply

Local media said that senior lawyer Amit Desai would now represent Aryan after his bail plea was rejected thrice.

According to India Today, Desai appeared for Aryan Khan in court on October 11. After being served notice for the bail plea, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) counsel told the court that the agency needs at least a week’s time to file replies as there are multiple bail pleas pending in the drugs case. To this, Desai said, “The man is already inside the prison for a week. Bail hearing does not have to depend on investigation. I am not arguing bail, I am only arguing for a date.”

He added, “Just because of their administrative reason, the liberty of someone should not be curtailed. Their investigation may continue. So far as this boy (Aryan Khan) is concerned. The maximum sentence can only be one year. There is no material against him and no substance was found on him. So, if they say that they need time for another week then look at the fact that it is only for a one-year sentence.”

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Desai had represented Salman Khan for his bail hearing in 2015. The advocate had challenged a lower court’s order sentencing Salman to five years of rigorous imprisonment in the case. After Desai defended Salman in May 2015, the actor was granted bail in the case on a sum of Rs 30,000.

The report comes days after Salman Khan was spotted visiting Shah Rukh Khan’s house in Mumbai.

As the news of SRK changing the lawyer surfaced online, fans started speculating that the Bollywood King took the decision on Salman’s advice.

Also Read: No bail for Aryan Khan today, next hearing on October 13

The court has set Aryan Khan’s bail plea hearing for 2:45 pm on Wednesday, October 13. The NCB has been directed by Judge VV Patil to file its reply by Wednesday.

Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3 after the NCB raided a Goa-bound cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and claimed to have recovered drugs from some persons. He is currently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.