Drugs, WhatsApp Chats linked with alleged ‘international racket’: Aryan Khan’s lawyer and Narcotics Control Bureau at loggerheads
Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan, along with actor Arbaaz Merchanttt, model Munmun Dhamecha and others were arrested after a surprise raid on a Goa-bound cruise ship. While Aryan has been booked under sections 8(C) read with 20, 35 and 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, during his remand hearing, several explosive details were revealed in the court. From the investigating agency alleging that they had discovered ‘incriminating evidence' on the star kid’s phone to Aryan’s lawyer claiming ‘mere chatting on the phone without corroboration doesn't make an offence', here’s everything that happened during the court trial on Monday, following with Aryan was taken into custody till October 7.
Aryan Khan’s alleged WhatsApp Chats
According to Live Law, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh representing NCB, claimed to the court that the agency has found ‘links’ in Aryan Khan’s WhatsApp chats to an existing ‘international racket’ He said, “Five more people who are under investigation will likely be produced before the Court. There are eight accused related to the ship and one more person will also be apprehended". He also alleged that during the investigation, Aryan’s phone was seized, through which it was been found that he was discussing payment modes. He pointed out the chats also included code names.
Commercial use of drugs
ASG Singh went on to say that the investigating team had procured drugs in commercial quantities from the cruise when the ninth accused in the case, a supplier, was arrested from Juhu in Mumbai.
Aryan’s custody
Singh added that all offences under the NDPS act are non-bailable, citing previous Bombay High Court judgments, including actor Rhea Chakraborty’s bail order in a previous drugs related matter. He further sought Aryan Khan’s custody till October 11 to probe the financing angle in order to ‘unearth the nexus’. Meanwhile, the NCB has also sent summons for the second time to the ship’s CEO.
Aryan Khan’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde's counterargument
Aryan Khan’s advocate read his statement out loud in the court that claimed that he did not pay anything to attend the party. It read, “I landed there with a friend of mine on an invite from the organisers. I got to know the best suite was allotted to me. I have not paid anything for this party”.
Chatting on the phone without corroboration doesn't make an offence’
Aryan’s lawyer further dismissed NCB’s claims about alleged WhatsApp conversations and said, “Now they say when I (Aryan Khan) was abroad, I have certain conversations in the phone and they want to bust an international drug trafficking racket. In the last one year, I've gone to my university. In the entire period, I have not indulged in any drug trafficking. Even if the offences are non-bailable as argued, based on Rhea's case, I am entitled to bail. There section 27A was invoked, for financing. If material is seized from other accused, that cannot be foisted on me".
‘Small’ quantity of drugs recovered
Maneshinde stated that a ‘small’ quantity of drugs was procured from actor and Ayan Khan’s friend Arbaaz Merchantt. Apart from this, no other drugs were seized and found from them, contrary to NCB’s claim. The team had said that ‘MDMA, Ecstasy, and other drugs were recovered while searching’.
‘Arbaaz Merchant is a friend’
SRK’s son said, “My bag was searched but nothing was found. After sometime they took custody of my phone and began interrogating me. Mr Merchant is a friend of mine. He was found in possession and we were arrested.”
Examples from similar cases
Aryan’s lawyer further mentioned a judgement to highlight that commercial quantities found on the person of one accused can't be used to incriminate another. He also recalled a Supreme Court’s order and claimed that "Mere chatting on the phone without corroboration doesn't make an offence".