This Article is From Oct 26, 2021

Aryan Khan Hearing Highlights: High Court Adjourns Aryan Khan's Bail Plea Till Tomorrow

Aryan Khan Drugs Case Highlights: The hearing will resume on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30 pm.

Aryan Khan Hearing Highlights: High Court Adjourns Aryan Khan's Bail Plea Till Tomorrow

Aryan Khan Case Highlights: Aryan Khan has been in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail since October 8

Mumbai:

Aryan Khan's jail stay was extended by another day as the hearing on his bail request in the Bombay High Court was posted to tomorrow.

The hearing will resume on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30 pm.

In today's arguments, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi argued that Aryan Khan was a "young man" who should be sent to rehab rather than jail.

The 23-year-old star son was arrested on October 3 after a drugs raid on a cruise ship party by Narcotics Control Bureau officers in disguise.

He has been in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail since October 8. His lawyers have repeatedly argued that no drugs were found on him. The special anti-drugs court that denied him bail last week said he knew about charas hidden in his friend Arbaaz Merchant's shoe, and this amounted to "conscious possession".

Here are the Highlights on Aryan Khan's Case:

Oct 26, 2021 22:23 (IST)
Mumbai NCB has summoned Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the drugs on cruise case, for questioning tomorrow. He will be questioned by NCB team reaching Mumbai from Delhi tomorrow, in connection with his allegations of corruption, news agency ANI reported quoting Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Oct 26, 2021 21:21 (IST)
2 Accused In Drugs-On-Cruise Case Involving Aryan Khan Get Bail
Two of the 20 accused in Mumbai's drugs-on-cruise case, Manish Rajgaria and Avin Sahu, got bail from the special court hearing the case today. The bail plea of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is pending before the Bombay High Court, which adjourned the hearing on it today. The hearing will continue tomorrow.

Manish Rajgaria, accused number 11 in the case, was arrested in possession of 2.4 grams of ganja. He was released with a bond amount of Rs 50,000. Avin Sahu was accused of consuming contraband twice. They were arrested as the cruise ship returned to Mumbai.

Unlike the case of Aryan Khan, there was no WhatsApp or iMessage chats in the case of Manish Rajgaria, his lawyer argued.  His lawyer, Ajay Dubey, had also argued that there was no progress in the investigation against him. The detailed order in the matter is awaited.

Avin Sahu's lawyer Sana Ali Khan told NDTV, "I have been able to show the difference between the cases of the other accused and my client."
Oct 26, 2021 19:48 (IST)
NCB Team To Probe Anti-Drugs Officer Sameer Wankhede In Mumbai Tomorrow
A five-member team from the vigilance section of the Narcotics Control Bureau will go to Mumbai tomorrow to investigate the allegations against Sameer Wankhede, the zonal officer in charge of the drugs on cruise ship case. The agency had ordered a vigilance inquiry into the bribery allegations made against the officer by a man named as a witness in the case. Mr Wankhede is also facing a series of allegations from Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik that range from extortion to illegal phone tapping and cornering quota meant for Scheduled Castes through forged documents.

Tweeting a letter with 26 allegations, Mr Malik has been insistent that the officer be investigated. Earlier today, the drugs control agency's Deputy Director General Mutha Ashok Jain said they will take necessary action in the matter.
Oct 26, 2021 18:50 (IST)
Pics Of Officer With Absconding Aryan Khan Case Witness Fuel Payoffs Row
NCB officer Sameer Wankhede - linked to a Rs 8 crore payoff - and KP Gosavi - the agency's 'independent witness' whose unfettered access to Aryan has raised questions - can be seen in pictures that seem to strengthen critics' claims about the Aryan Khan drugs case being a "fake".

The images - taken on the same day (October 2) the agency raided a cruise ship anchored off the Mumbai coast and arrested Aryan Khan and seven others - are from inside offices at the city's port.

They also show Mr Wankhede with Manish Bhanusali - a BJP worker who claimed to have supplied information that led to the raid, and was seen with two of those arrested on the raid night.
Oct 26, 2021 18:27 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case | Accused Manish Rajgaria granted bail by city-based special NDPS Court, says his lawyer Ajay Dubey, according to news agency ANI

Image
Oct 26, 2021 18:23 (IST)
Anti-drug agency NCB's 5-member team to go to Mumbai tomorrow to probe allegations against officer Sameer Wankhede
Oct 26, 2021 18:20 (IST)
"Young Boys... Rehab, Not Trial," Aryan Khan's Lawyer Tells Court
Aryan Khan's bail plea - his third since his arrest on October 3 - was heard by the Bombay High Court Tuesday afternoon, with former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi part of a high-powered legal team.

Earlier the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) accused Pooja Dadlani, who is the manager of Aryan's father, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, of trying to influence witnesses. Aryan Khan has said he had nothing to do with payoff allegations involving Sameer Wankhede.
Oct 26, 2021 18:07 (IST)
JustIn | Hearing on bail application of accused Aryan Khan has been adjourned for tomorrow by the Bombay High Court
Oct 26, 2021 18:04 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Court: How much time will you take?
Amit Desai: I will take 45 mins. 
ASG: I will also take 45 mins
Court: Then we keep it tomorrow
Oct 26, 2021 18:04 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (for Arbaaz Merchant): But the law of conspiracy, the first principles of conspiracy is that there must be an agreement to do an illegal activity.

1) There must be evidence of agreement prior to commission of the act. 
2) There has to be some material at that point to show that there was conspiracy amongst three people who were arrested first but they did not invoke 29
Oct 26, 2021 18:03 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (for Arbaaz Merchant): The others against whom conspiracy and 29 is alleged are produced on the next day. 

The entire case is based on the statements, the recovery and the WhatsApp chats... 

Whatever is being argued today is based in the bulk of evidence which was with then from October 2-3
Oct 26, 2021 18:02 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (for Arbaaz Merchant): Arbaaz Merchant's arrest memo is identical as that of Aryan Khan

Mr Desai reads out memo

What your lordship will mark here is Section 27 is offence of consumption, 20(b) is use, purchase and possession.

Now they accosted a group of people, Merchant and Khan before the others. The first three were produced on Sunday and others on next day. 

So Section 27 and 20(b) but what happens to 29?

Because that is important. So now let us also see 42(1)(d). Reason to believe commission of offence under this act.
Oct 26, 2021 17:59 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (for Arbaaz Merchant): Did the NCB believe on the afternoon of October 2 & when they exercise power of arrest, they exercise it for Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha

The principles say that the person who is to be arrested should be told about the grounds
Oct 26, 2021 17:56 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (for Arbaaz Merchant): Whatever my learned friend argued regarding the rigours of Section 37 applying should have sufficed in trial court only. 

The umbrella conspiracy, to try and rope in anybody and everybody, is what is being used in this matter. 

It is not a case of 1 year punishment but because there is umbrella conspiracy, and commercial quantity rigours apply
Oct 26, 2021 17:45 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Court asks if there are any urgent matters on the board which can be taken first.

Court associate calls out other matters.

Calls out from Serial No. 59
Oct 26, 2021 17:44 (IST)
Aryan Khan Drugs Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Advocate Subhash Jha: On October 20, your lordships had risen early. 

Court: I am sensitive to your concerns hence I sit till 7. Else I can sit till 4.30 and curtail my board. 

Are you saying that your applications are intentionally not being circulated?

Advocate Subhash Jha: That day my application was not listed..

Court: But I was not expecting this from you. 
But I will hear you.

Satish Maneshinde (also for Aryan Khan): Mine is not the only matter.
Oct 26, 2021 17:40 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Advocate Subhash Jha: There is preliminary application, and that is by the members of the bar as well. That there is precedence given to this matter over the 100s other pending applications

Court: Mr Jha you appear in my court, everyday. I do not rise without completing my board. Whosoever comes to court gets a hearing.
Oct 26, 2021 17:38 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai is appearing for Arbaaz Merchant

Advocate Subhash Jha has field an intervention application. The court points it out.
Oct 26, 2021 17:37 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Now this paragraph has mention of manager (Pooja Dadlani), and I filed a rejoinder saying that I am mot making any allegations against the officers or panchnamas and I have no connection

I am respectfully submitting that I am not making any allegation. This is a normal case except for this unsavoury comments.

I respectfully submit that this case is for bail.

Oct 26, 2021 17:34 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): This case is important in media because of his parents. 

Now going to the unsavoury controversy. 

Mr Rohatgi reads out Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) reply para 4
Oct 26, 2021 17:32 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) finally reads Justice Dangre's order of Bombay High Court

Mr Rohatgi hands over an article of The Indian Express pertaining to remarks by Social Justice Ministry for reformation in drugs consumption
Oct 26, 2021 17:31 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): It was not in my control, what was found in Arbaaz Merchant's shoe. Arbaaz is not my servant, he is not in my control, so there is no conspiracy.
Oct 26, 2021 17:30 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Now let me show an order, Rajesh Vajani of Bombay High Court.
Oct 26, 2021 17:27 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) cites a judgment of Justice Sambre. Sohil Samir Vs State of Maharashtra
Oct 26, 2021 17:21 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is now reading the judgments.

I respectfully submit that I have a better case than all cases, I am citing because there is no recovery from me.

The next judgment is by Justice Pitale. One is Ranveer and one is Shanu.

Ranveer Singh v State of Maharashtra and Shanoob KH vs State

Now let me show an important judgment. Ragini Dwivedi vs State of Karnataka.

This is an important judgment.
Oct 26, 2021 17:20 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is now reading the judgments.

I respectfully submit that I have a better case than all cases, I am citing because there is no recovery from me.

The next judgment is by Justice Pitale. One is Ranveer and one is Shanu.

Ranveer Singh v State of Maharashtra and Shanoob KH vs State
Oct 26, 2021 17:18 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (Also for Aryan Khan): But there is nothing beyond that poker communication

Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Exactly, what I am saying is there is nothing to show that I was financing illicit trafficking

He mentioned about gaming, milords may remember Rummy. 

The case of Rummy was there in SC. Is it not a game of skill?

That was challenged because it was alleged to be gambling.

The SC said it was a skill, because even though It depends on the cards, there is skill involved. 

We have gone beyond this, games have evolved. 

We have online poker, online cricket.. I am saying this because I have appeared in them.
Oct 26, 2021 17:16 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (Also for Aryan Khan): Beyond this communication there is nothing.

Aryan Khan was asked about the chats and he said he knew due to the online game. Now a days there are a lot of online gaming. 

I am saying this because there are petitions challenging online games
Oct 26, 2021 17:15 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (Also for Aryan Khan): Accused 17 is a young college kid

From all the record that are coming out. a17 is a friend with whom Khan was playing online poker

And that was the communication exchanged. Based on that communication, they are showing connection
Oct 26, 2021 17:13 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Court: Please clarify from your chart. You are showing arrows from Aryan Khan to accused 17 (Aachit Kunar)
Oct 26, 2021 17:13 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): These chats are not all on the cruise. Some are on the cruise, some are not. But that is not my concern. I am saying there is no case against me

I want to show some judgments.
Oct 26, 2021 17:11 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Max you may link me with Arbaaz Merchant and Accused 17 (Aachit) only after recovery. But I am not linked with anyone else. Conspiracy is when all 20 have met prior and have meeting of minds
Oct 26, 2021 17:09 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Accused 17 was not on the cruise, who was named by Aryan Khan and Arbaaz Merchant. 

He was arrested from his house on October 6. 

Because the officers got some information that there is something with him. 

But he was found with 2.6 grams!
Oct 26, 2021 17:08 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): With this compendium of facts, what I am saying that there is no case. There is no consumption, no possession... Why this boy has been sent 20 days in jail.
Oct 26, 2021 17:07 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): I am arguing a case which is actually not there against me.

My case is not of possession or consumption. 

In US and some parts of the world, cannabis is legal.
Oct 26, 2021 17:06 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): Out of the twin conditions for bail, Section 37 does not apply because 27A has no application. Section 64A has immunity from prosecution if you are prosecuted under Section 27 and you go to rehab
Oct 26, 2021 17:04 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): I am not in any case concerned with Section 27A. There is no evidence. I have not financed anyone trafficking.

Kindly see 29 for abetting. The punishment is same as the offence.

If you apply Section 29, to 8(c), 20(b) and 27, then punishment for conspiracy is 1 year and nothing further. 

Although I am saying there is no material for conspiracy.

My case will go to 8(c), 27 and 20(b) and not Section 27A

My case is far from Section 27A
Oct 26, 2021 17:01 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is now reading Section 20 (b) of the Act.

The legislative intent is clear if we read 20 (b) with 8 (c)

Maximum punishment is imprisonment of 1 year that is maximum and not minimum. There is NO case of harbouring also
Oct 26, 2021 16:59 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): These are young boys. They can be sent to rehab and they need not undergo trial. 

It had come in some newspaper that the social ministry was mentioning about reform
Oct 26, 2021 16:55 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Justice Sambre: So there is no seizure of mobile phone? What about the whatsapp chats?

Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): No there is no panchnama for seizure of phones

The Whatsapp chats do not pertain to the cruise or conspiracy, those are old chats.

Those are to some people and supposedly to some international persons. 

This is in the past and that is just supposed to show the conspiracy. There is no case that I knew the other 20 people except for Arbaaz Merchant.

 I am not admitting to consumption or use. 

The only thing is conscious possession and that is also small quantity.
Oct 26, 2021 16:53 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is now reading the first remand application.

Please see that Section 35 is culpable mental state, it is not an offence.

There is no seizure of the mobile phone also.
Oct 26, 2021 16:53 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is now reading the panchnama

It is clear that there is no recovery from me.

Oct 26, 2021 16:52 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan): The director of the Sameer Wankhede in response, he said that it is on account of the enmity with a political personality whose son in law was arrested, (Nawab Malik)

Today what is being said is kind of rebounding on me.

Kindly keep me away from that controversy. I am making it clear I have nothing against any NCB officer. I have no grievance
Oct 26, 2021 16:47 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (for Aryan Khan) is reading arrest memo.

I have no case either of consumption or sale or purchase or connection with any other person except Arbaz Merchant. 

The arrest memo gives impression that I was carrying drugs.

I will deliver at the end of my submissions about panchnama 1&2 ( KP Gosavi and Prabhakar Sail)

There is some unsavoury controversy, but In my rejoinder I make it clear I am not connected to panch 1 (Prabhakar Sail) and 2.

When the controversy arose, by affidavit of panch 2, he filed that affidavit making unsavoury allegation
Oct 26, 2021 16:45 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): There is consumption alleged. But there is no smoking, there is no partying, there is only possession in my case
Oct 26, 2021 16:45 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): The chats have nothing to do with the current scenario and then to use general phrase like conspiracy is not right apart from that there is no recovery.

 I go further and put against myself

Assume for the purpose of conspiracy, that 5-10 decided in advance that we will go to the ship

So there is meeting of minds

But what if the programme aborted?
Oct 26, 2021 16:43 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): As for the Whatsapp chats, they were of the time period of 2018. 

None of the chats are from the cruise. 

There is no case where those chats with "123" have anything to do with this saga. 

Those chats, we will have to see in trial, to be proved and result of that proof.
Oct 26, 2021 16:42 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): There is no prior conviction in this case.
Oct 26, 2021 16:41 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): It is my case that Section 37 cannot kick in because sections under 37 do not apply. 

But the sessions court has held 37 and conspiracy.
Oct 26, 2021 16:40 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): Now Section 27A is trafficking, like a peddler. 

And then Section 29, because Arbaaz Merchant was found with substance. 

I do not know anybody but Arbaaz Merchant. So the charge of conspiracy.
Oct 26, 2021 16:38 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): What was recovered was small, 6 gms.

The sizes are small, medium and large. 

Sorry I mean small intermediary and commercial. 

So this small amount  is not enough to keep me in custody. 

Many others have been found with intermediary and commercial quantity. 

There is no Section 27A against me!
Oct 26, 2021 16:37 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): My case is NOT conscious possession at all. 

What somebody had in their SHOE or wherever is not my concern

There is an old judgement. I will give citation.

So basically this conscious possession is against me, because there was nothing found with me.

There is another thing against me. 

It is not a case that party was going on and people were consuming. 

So why was my client targeted?
Oct 26, 2021 16:36 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): The statements made to NDPS officers are inadmissible. That is what it says.

Since there is no RECOVERY, I submit I am WRONGLY arrested

I moved Magistrate, he said no jurisdiction. He said go to district level. Then we moved to district court. That was rejected.

There is NO consumption, there is NO possession

What is put against me is that you came with Arbaz Merchant, so you had conscious possession. 

It was far fetched. 

They say it was known to me and I had control.
Oct 26, 2021 16:35 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): As far as NDPS is concerned, we had raised this issue in SC. We raised this issue in several petitions of special acts. As these are officers & not police. So if you record statement as police

There is a judgment of Tofan Singh. 

Justice Nariman speaking for the court. 

NDPS officer who records then statement in the act, it is not admissible in court
Oct 26, 2021 16:34 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan): Arbaaz Merchant had 6 gms of charas which was recovered from his shoes. merchant is denying it. I am not concerned, except that he is my friend. 

As far as I (Aryan Khan) am concerned, there is NO recovery, NO consumption and  NO medical test

There is nothing against my client. 

He was arrested on October 3. 

There was a statement recorded under Section 67 which was retracted next date.
Oct 26, 2021 16:26 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi (Aryan Khan) : May I proceed?

I will try to be as brief as possible. 

He is 23 yrs of age. He was in California USA. The present saga starts on October 2.

There was a cruise from Bombay to Goa, Aryan Khan was invited to the cruise as a guest. 

He was invited by Prateek Gaba. 

He knew Aryan Khan and Arbaaz Merchant. So Aryan Khan and Merchant were called. Pursuant to the advertisement, they arrived on the afternoon of October 2 at the cruise terminal in Mumbai. 

It appears that the NCB had prior information that people will be carrying drugs.

So NCB sent officers so they could apprehend customers. Aryan Khan and Merchant were apprehended from time to time. 

There was No recovery from Aryan Khan and there was No medical examination to show that there was consumption.
Oct 26, 2021 16:24 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Justice Sambre: If you can call your colleague, you can get it delivered it from the judge's door.

There is a lot of commotion, there are loud screams being heard.
Oct 26, 2021 16:22 (IST)
Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Amit Desai (Also for Aryan Khan): Our juniors and papers are outside. 

Some assistance from the court, so that our papers and juniors can come in.

The police are not able to manage the commotion.
Oct 26, 2021 16:21 (IST)
Court Update according to Bar & Bench | Mukul Rohatgi: I beg to appear in first of these matters for Aryan Khan.

Lordship may note, I have filed a one page rejoinder. 
Oct 26, 2021 16:18 (IST)
Aryan Khan Bail matter called out.
Oct 26, 2021 15:51 (IST)
Oct 26, 2021 15:30 (IST)
Oct 26, 2021 14:54 (IST)
Courtroom cleared in Aryan Khan bail hearing
Court Update | Judge rises due to Covid protocols not being followed and courtroom being crowded.

The courtroom has now been cleared. The court has said that every reporter will be allowed in only once the matter has been called.
Oct 26, 2021 14:47 (IST)
Court Update | Former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi, representing Aryan Khan in his bail hearing, reaches Bombay High Court.
Oct 26, 2021 14:16 (IST)
Aryan Khan Case Updates: Pics Of Sameer Wankhede With Absconding Aryan Khan Case Witness Fuel Payoffs Row
NCB officer Sameer Wankhede - linked to a Rs 8 crore payoff - and KP Gosavi - the agency's 'independent witness' whose unfettered access to Aryan has raised questions - can be seen in pictures that seem to strengthen critics' claims about the Aryan Khan drugs case being a "fake".

The images - taken on the same day (October 2) the agency raided a cruise ship anchored off the Mumbai coast and arrested Aryan Khan and seven others - are from inside offices at the city's port.

They also show Mr Wankhede with Manish Bhanusali - a BJP worker who claimed to have supplied information that led to the raid, and was seen with two of those arrested on the raid night.

It is still not clear how or why a civilian informant, if that was indeed Mr Bhanushali's role, and a 'witness', Mr Gosavi, were allowed to participate in the raid and interact with those arrested.

The images triggered furious protests from Nawab Malik, who has called the entire case a "forgery" and has launched a relentless attack on the agency officer in charge - Sameer Wankhede.
Oct 26, 2021 13:41 (IST)
Aryan Khan disassociates himself from recent allegations against NCB
Court Update | An affidavit has been filed in the Bombay High Court on behalf of Aryan Khan, in which it has been said that no deal was done with NCB officials from his side, and that he has not leveled any allegations against the NCB.

"I have nothing to do with the allegations and counter allegations that are currently on public/social media between Sameer Wankhede and certain political personalities, also have no connection/concern with Prabhakar Sail or Gosavi," said Aryan Khan's affidavit.
Oct 26, 2021 13:29 (IST)
Accusation Against SRK's Manager Pooja Dadlani As Agency Opposes Aryan Khan's Bail Plea
Opposing bail for Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) alleged in a statement to the Bombay High Court that the superstar's manager Pooja Dadlani "appeared to have influenced" a witness.

In its written reply to the High Court yesterday, the NCB alleged an "attempt to tamper with the investigation and derail it".

The details of the reply emerged just before the High Court hearing on the bail request of Aryan Khan, who has been in jail since October 8 in the drugs-on-cruise case.

The NCB refers to the allegations of a witness, Prabhakar Sail, who has alleged in an affidavit that Kiran Gosavi, the private investigator whose selfie with Aryan Khan went viral and threw up questions, had planned to demand Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani to settle the case. Of this, he has alleged, Rs 8 crore was meant for Sameer Wankhede, the NCB officer leading the investigation.
Oct 26, 2021 13:10 (IST)
Court Update | Narcotics Control Bureau's written reply in Bombay High Court:

The investigation till now has revealed an international drug connection of Aryan Khan.

The same is being investigated and as per stipulated guidelines, sufficient time is required to properly unearth this international drug connection.

Further, considering the influential position Aryan Khan holds in the society, he may tamper with the evidence and influence other witnesses whom he personally knows is very much possible.
Oct 26, 2021 12:53 (IST)
NCB opposes Aryan Khan’s bail in Bombay High Court, alleges attempts being made to "derail investigation"
Attempts are being made on behalf to tamper with the ongoing investigation, with a malafide attempt to derail the same, said the Narcotics Control Bureau in their written reply to the Bombay High Court.

"This is evident from the contents of a purported Affidavit dated 23 October, 2021 by one Prabhakar R. Sail. Such a document has not being filed in any proceeding before any Court despite the fact that the matter is subjudice before the Hon'ble Sessions Court and this Hon'ble Court," stated the NCB.
Oct 26, 2021 12:27 (IST)
Just In | Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede reaches the NCB office amid multiple allegations against him in relation to the Aryan Khan drug investigation, as well as regarding his work on previous cases.

Gyaneshwar Singh, NCB's Chief Vigilance Officer clarified that he has not called Sameer Wankhede for questioning today. "I will call when needed," he said.

Oct 26, 2021 11:20 (IST)
NCB Director General says action will be taken regarding the letter that accuses NCB's Sameer Wankhede on various counts
Oct 26, 2021 10:51 (IST)
Aryan Khan's Bail Hearing Today, Mukul Rohatgi To Represent Him
Former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi will represent Aryan Khan today when his request for bail is heard by the Bombay High Court. The 23-year-old son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in jail since October 8 in the drugs-on-cruise case, has been denied bail twice.
Oct 26, 2021 10:43 (IST)
Bombay High Court assembles for Aryan Khan bail hearing
Bombay High Court assembles for hearing matters for the day, including Aryan Khan's bail plea which is listed as item 57.
Oct 26, 2021 10:42 (IST)
Nawab Malik continues to slam NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede, accuses him of illegally tapping phones
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, on the subject of the letter he received, said that other witnesses have also come to him like witness Prabhakar Sail.

"The information he gave - the same information is in this letter. That's why I believe this is a letter from NCB itself," said Mr Malik.

"I am not saying that you should take immediate action. You investigate, take action on the basis of the information that comes in it," he added.

Nawab Malik further stated that NCB officer Sameer Wankhede, through two private people in Mumbai and Thane, is illegally intercepting the mobile phones of some people.
Oct 26, 2021 10:23 (IST)
NCB accused of suppressing honest officers in letter by NCB employee to Nawab Malik
The letter to Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik from an unnamed NCB employee claimed that NCB's Sameer Wankhede. who is leading Aryan Khan's drug investigation, has not followed proper rules while investigating 26 different cases.

Mr Malik said that this letter has been marked to the Chief Minister, the Home Minister, along with other ministers and politicians. The letter will also be sent to the Director General of Police.

In this letter, the person has also given a detailed account about working of NCB and how honest officers are suppressed.
Oct 26, 2021 10:01 (IST)
More allegations emerge against Sameer Wankhede in letter from unnamed NCB employee
Ahead of Aryan Khan's bail hearing, Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik claims that a new letter, written by an unknown person who has allegedly been an employee of the Narcotics Control Bureau Mumbai for the past two years, has been received in the case against NCB's Sameer Wankhede.

According to this letter, Sameer Wankhede and the Delhi's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) KPS Malhotra have supposedly earned large sums of money from extorting actors like Deepika Padukone. The letter also claims that Sameer Wankhede has, on several occasions, depicted more drugs found in a raid than there actually were, to make a case seem bigger.
Oct 26, 2021 09:17 (IST)
Police complaint filed against NCB's Sameer Wankhede for alleged extortion
Lawyer Sudha Dwivedi filed a police complaint to register an FIR against Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede, who is leading Aryan Khan's drug investigation, along with four others, alleging "extortion by threat of accusation of an offence."
Oct 26, 2021 09:05 (IST)
Bombay High Court to hear Aryan Khan bail plea today
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