NCB accuses Aryan Khan and others of illicit procurement and consumption of drugs

Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday alleged that Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, along with others, was prima facie involved in "illicit drug trafficking, as well as its procurement and consumption of the contraband" banned under the NDPS Act.

The agency also accused Aryan Khan of being in touch with some persons abroad who could be part of an international illegal drug syndicate and it is continuing further investigations to unearth his links to contact the foreign agency through proper channels.

The NCB's statement came during a hearing of the bail applications of Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha, Mohak Jaswal, Nupur Satija, Aachit Kumar, Shreyas Nair and Avin Sahu before Special NDPS Judge V.V. Patil.

Since the arguments remained incomplete, the matter will continue on Thursday afternoon, and Aryan Khan and the 7 others arrested remain in custody since October 2.

Khan's lawyers, senior advocates Amit Desai and Satish Maneshinde termed the NCB's contention as "inherently absurd" and argued that when there was no recovery of drugs from him, then he should not be penalised at the stage of granting bail.

The NCB's allegations came in its reply opposing the bail applications of Aryan Khan, Merchant, and Dhamecha.

It said there is prima facie sufficient material evidence in the form of WhatsApp chats, photos, etc showing that Aryan Khan was an active link of the illegal drugs chain along with the other accused.

Aryan Khan, along with Merchant, Dhamecha, Satija, Jaswal, Ishmeet Singh Chadha, Vikrant Chhoker, and Gomit Chopra were nabbed in the first round on October 3, and on October 7, remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a Mumbai magistrate.

Later, the NCB made a series of arrests, totalling around 20 to date and all the accused are in different types of custody.