The Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the Mumbai cruise drugs case. A Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) team on October 2 raided the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and claimed to have seized drugs. Aryan is among 20 people arrested in the case so far. The High Court had Wednesday adjourned proceedings on Aryan’s bail plea after hearing arguments for the second day in the case.
A single bench of Justice N W Sambre also granted bail to co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha.
“All three pleas are allowed. I will pass detailed orders by tomorrow evening,” Justice Sambre said.
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The court refused permission to Aryan Khan’s lawyers to submit cash bail, and said surety is to be given, Press Trust of India reported.
“I could have given the order also tomorrow. But I gave it today,” Justice Sambre said.
Aryan Khan’s bail plea before Bombay High Court: All you need to know
Aryan, who is presently in judicial custody, is lodged at the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai since October 8. His legal team will now try to complete the formalities for his release by Friday.
Aryan’s bail plea was rejected twice by a Mumbai magistrate court and a special NDPS court.
Aryan’s lawyers have argued that the NCB doesn’t have credible evidence to keep him in custody and the alleged recovery of six grams of charas from his friend Arbaaz Merchant cannot be termed “conscious possession.”
Aryan, Merchant and Dhamecha have been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs, conspiracy and abetment.
The case took a new twist amid allegations of extortion and corruption against NCB’s Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, who the led the cruise raid.
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it will not arrest Wankhede without a prior notice of three working days as the officer moved the court for interim protection from arrest or any coercive action against him.
