A Mumbai court today directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to release Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, Munmum Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant, who were all arrested in an alleged drug bust on a cruise ship off Mumbai, into judicial custody.
The court rejected the NCB's plea for further custody of the three until 11 October. Their interim bail pleas will be heard at 11am tomorrow.
Breaking: Mumbai Court Will Consider TOMORROW The Bail Applications of #AryanKhan, Arbaaz Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha And Others In Cruise Ship Drug Case pic.twitter.com/TpIIiZSnTg
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) October 7, 2021
Chief metropolitan magistrate RM Nerlikar observed in his order that the NCB had had sufficient opportunity to interrogate the three suspects and that he did not deem further custodial interrogation necessary.
Aryan and the two others arrested with him have already moved for interim bail. Just for tonight, the accused were released into NCB custody.
ORDER: The zonal director is requested to keep the accused in NCB as jail authorities do not admit the accused post 6 pm ... without COVID report. So they may be remanded with NCB. @narcoticsbureau #Cruiseshipdrugcase #AryanKhanDrugCase
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) October 7, 2021
On Monday, 4 October, Aryan and the others were remanded into NCB custody till 7 October. Their matter came up for hearing today, with the NCB demanding further custody to establish their connections with some of the other suspects in the case.
Legal news website BarandBench.com quoted special public prosecutor Advait Sethna, representing the NCB, as saying, "It is humbly prayed for short custody till 11 October. Confrontation of present eight respondents with Aachit Kumar and intercepted foreign national is essential for investigation."
ORDER contd.: Considering the first remand of accused 1-3, and other remand of the accused, and the present remand report, it appears that, the investigation is made to the extent of arrest of co-accused.#Cruiseshipdrugcase #AryanKhanDrugCase
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) October 7, 2021
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, also representing the NCB, underlined that the investigation was at an ''imminent stage" and hence custody should be granted.
No further custodial interrogation of Aryan Khan required: Mumbai court#AryanKhan #AryankhanDrugsCase
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) October 7, 2021
Read more here: https://t.co/8pY3VG1ZXw pic.twitter.com/H3YCsU1tJ7
Advocate Satish Maneshinde, representing Aryan Khan, pointed out in his response that his client had complied with the investigation thus far, been part of the interrogation, and had not been arrested for consuming or carrying any prohibited drugs or substances. The defence counsel also argued that Khan had been an invitee on the yatch and was only there as a guest.
In his order, the magistrate noted, "No custodial interrogation is required as sufficient time and opportunity was granted to NCB for investigation. Hence, they are remanded to judicial custody."