Finding no merit in the NCB’s argument for custodial interrogation, a local court in Mumbai on Thursday granted 14-day judicial custody to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan?s son Aryan Khan and 7 others in the drug bust case. Aryan and two other co-accused have moved bail applications today, which will be taken up by the court at 12.30pm tomorrow.
The hearing, which lasted for over four hours, saw both the NCB as well as the defence lawyers slug it out in the courtroom. While the NCB argued that none of the eight co-accused could be segregated and that their custody was needed for confronting them with each other, the defence lawyers said the NCB has done precious little in that direction since the time of the last remand.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh appeared on behalf of NCB against all the eight accused. He had appeared only against three of the accused, including Aryan Khan, during the last hearing.
During his arguments on Thursday, the ASG pleaded for NCB custody of all the accused on the grounds of unearthing a wider conspiracy. The NCB argued that it had made a fresh arrest, Archit Kumar, in the case on the basis of statements given by Aryan and that it wanted to proceed in that direction. Archit Kumar was shown as the 17th and a critical arrest in the case.
“All these people are connected in the same thread. Conspiracy and abetment. They can?t be isolated. Total 17 arrested now. Further NCB custody is required due to subsequent developments. NCB has arrested Archit Kumar with contraband. He has been named by Aryan. Confrontation with accused essential for further investigation. After the orders passed on 4th October, there has been further development. We have intercepted the organiser, supplier, other persons as well to establish the racket in narcotics and psychotropic substances,” the NCB said.
Aryan Khan also made an application for withdrawal of a statement to the NCB. Without reading the statement aloud, the ASG said that the averments made in the statement by Aryan Khan were important for further investigation.
“How he had gone there, how he was invited, and whom he had met ? for that purpose, am showing this statement. For the purpose of remand, this statement can be taken into consideration. It is on the basis of this statement, and on the basis of subsequent statements, Archit Kumar was arrested,? the ASG argued.
‘Chats were about football’
The defence, however, argued that the custody of the accused was not necessary to investigate the matter further. “The law is, everyday, custody must be explained. Nothing has come ahead. They arrested one person yesterday. At least then, they should have confronted him. We were already in their custody. At least make an attempt to put me face to face. NCB is capable, has 100 officers,” argued Aryan?s lawyer Satish Maneshinde.
He further said “they have arrested a foreign national”, but they haven?t been able to establish a connection with his client yet.
Reiterating that Aryan was at the party as a VVIP, Maneshinde said on his behalf, ?I have a friend called Pratik, who had informed me that I might be invited as a special VVIP as the ship’s crew, not as an organiser. Pratik spoke to (organiser of the party) Aamir Furniturewala, who had requested Pratik to invite me, only with the intention to add colour to the party.?
“There were 1,000 people on the ship. They have arrested only 17. It isn?t that the entire cruise was full of people connected to the organisation. I was called to provide glamour to the troupe. I had no connection with Aamir Furniturewala or any other organiser,” he added.
Denying that Aryan took friend Arbaaz with him, the lawyer said on his behalf, “I didn’t take anybody with me. Each was individually invited.”.
“They asked me whether I was carrying any drugs. I said no. Searched my bag… they found nothing. They took possession of my mobile instrument. Officers took me to the NCB office. Meeting with a lawyer at 1.30-2am. Officers placed me under arrest the next day,” he said.
Maneshinde also said: “Chats were about football. Football doesn’t mean drugs. And the chats were one year old.” Later, arguing that Archit can be confronted anytime, and that custodial interrogation wasn?t necessary, Maneshinde said there was no fresh evidence in the matter.
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