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Mumbai Drugs Case LIVE Updates: Aryan Khan's Release Now on Saturday as Jail Deadline Missed
Mumbai Drugs Case LIVE Updates: Aryan Khan will walk out of jail after almost 3 weeks in custody.
Mumbai Drugs Case LIVE Updates: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in a drugs case on Thursday, will be released early on Saturday as the jail’s 5:30 pm deadline for document submission passed on Friday while his legal team made a mad dash to get all bail papers in order in the court. Read More
Key Events
Key Events- This is Why Aryan Khan Has to Spend Another Night in Jail Despite Getting Bail
- Family Has Sense of Relief: Juhi Chawla
- Aryan Khan Won't be Released from Jail Today, as 5:30 Deadline Passes and Procedure Still Incomplete
- Aryan Khan May Walk Out of Jail Today Evening
- Shah Rukh Was Very, Very Worried for His Son: Mukul Rohatgi
Extortion Allegation in Aryan Case: NCB Says Can Not Reach Conclusion Without Recording Sail's Statement
The Special Enquiry Team (SET) of the NCB which is probing allegations of extortion attempt in the cruise ship drug bust case can not make any progress unless it speaks to independent witness Prabhakar Sail, a senior official said here on Friday. Deputy Director General of the NCB Gyaneshwar Singh, who is heading the five-member SET, said they have recorded the statements of five officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau and three others so far. Sail is among those who has accused NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede and other officials of an attempt to extort money after drugs were allegedly seized from a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and Aryan Khan, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, was arrested among others. Wankhede has denied all allegations. Mumbai police, who are also probing these allegations separately, had recorded Sail’s statement over the last three days. Singh said they tried to contact Sail and also requested the Mumbai police commissioner to help as “there were reports in the media that he is in contact with police and they are examining him.”
RECAP | NCB 'Witness' in Viral Selfie With Aryan Khan Arrested in Pune in 2018 Fraud Case
An “independent witness” of the Narcotics Control Bureau in the Aryan Khan case, whose selfie with the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan went viral, was arrested in Pune on Thursday in connection with a cheating case dating back to 2018, days after he claimed there was threat to his life and he would surrender to the police. READ MORE
Once 'Blue-eyed Boy' Hired 'on Loan', Now Facing Probe: Sameer Wankhede Has Seen Everything in NCB
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had hired Sameer Wankhede after noticing his “flawless” work in anti-terror cases during his time at the National Investigation Agency (NIA). While he has been termed as one of the best officers of the NCB, the agency has now initiated a probe against the zonal officer after allegations of extortion. READ MORE
'Genie is Out of the Bottle,' Says Malik After Wankhede's Family Members Meet BJP Leader
Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Friday took potshots over a meeting between family members of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede and BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, saying “the genie is out of the bottle.” Malik, who has levelled a slew of allegations against Wankhede in context of the drugs-on-cruise case, accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to defame Maharashtra and the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai. READ MORE
This is Why Aryan Khan Has to Spend Another Night in Jail Despite Getting Bail
Aryan Khan will not be released from jail on Friday as the submission of his release papers to the Arthur Road Jail’s bail box exceeded the 5:30 PM deadline, jail authorities told CNN-News18. The Bombay High Court had on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan in the Mumbai drugs bust case, wherein a team of the Narcotics Control Bureau had raided a cruise off the Mumbai coast on October 3 and held Shah Rukh Khan’s son, among others. The court released the conditions for Aryan’s release on Friday evening, which included a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh and a temporary ban on leaving the country. However, jail authorities told CNN-News18 that they “cannot be seen giving preferential treatment” as bail orders in other cases had already been collected. READ MORE
Family Has Sense of Relief: Juhi Chawla
Actor Juhi Chawla, who signed the Rs 1 lakh surety bond for Aryan Khan earlier, said the family has a sense of relief now. When asked whether Aryan Khan would be released today or tomorrow, she said she did not know, adding that the proceedure on her side has been completed.
Aryan Khan Won't be Released from Jail Today, as 5:30 Deadline Passes and Procedure Still Incomplete
Jail sources have told CNN-News18 that Aryan Khan may not be released today. The procedure for his release has not yet been completed, as Aryan’s release memo has not been yet signed by authorities.
READ: Juhi Chawla Signs Rs 1 Lakh Bail Surety for Aryan Khan in Court
Actress Juhu Chawla on Friday signed the Rs one lakh bail bond for Shah Rukh Khan‘s son Aryan Khan at the NDPS court after the Bombay High Court made available its operative order. Khan and two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were granted bail after they were arrested in the drugs-on-cruise case. READ MORE
Aryan Khan's Team Racing Against Time as Deadline for Release Today Approaches
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in a drugs case on Thursday, will walk out of jail today only if his release papers are submitted before 6:30 pm, sources told CNN-News18. Advocate Satish Maneshinde and his team have just now secured the bail papers after actor Jhi Chawla signed a Rs 1 lakh bail bond in court.
NCB DDG Says 5 Officers, 3 People Questioned
Gyaneshwar Singh, DDG NBC, said on Friday that so far five officers and three persons had been questioned in the case. “We have taken the help from police since we had heard that they are in touch with (Prabhakar Sail) but we are yet to meet him. We are trying all routes to contact him,” he said.
Satish Maneshinde Leaves Court
Lawyer Satish Maneshinde, a part of Aryan Khan’s defence team, has now left the court for Arthur Road Jail. Conditions for Aryan Khan’s release from jail had earlier been announced by the Bombay HC.
RECAP | 'Worried' Shah Rukh Khan's First Reaction to News of Son Aryan Khan Getting Bail in HC
Amid news reports claiming how mood was grim at Mannat during the three weeks time period when Aryan Khan was in Arthur Road Jail for his involvement in drugs case, fresh details of how Shah Rukh Khan coped during this difficult time have surfaced. READ MORE
Juhi Chawla Signs Rs 1 Lakh Surety Bond of Aryan Khan
Actor Juhi Chawla has signed the Rs 1 lakh surety bond for Aryan Khan’s release from Arthur Road Jail in the Mumbai drugs case.
Aryan Khan May Walk Out of Jail Today, But Only With These Terms and Conditions | Full List
The Bombay High Court on Friday said Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs one lakh with one or two sureties of the same amount. A copy of the five-page operative order was signed by Justice N W Sambre on Friday afternoon. This would help Aryan Khan’s advocates to secure his release from the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, where he is lodged, by evening. Aryan Khan’s advocates will now take the certified copy of the HC order to the special court that is hearing the cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with the requisite documents and sureties. READ MORE
Shah Rukh Khan Set to Meet Aryan Khan Shortly, Leaves for Arthur Road Jail
Shah Rukh Khan, who left from his residence Mannat earlier for Arthur Road Jail, is set to meet Aryan Khan shortly, as his counsel prepares for Aryan’s release from jail.
SRK Leaves from Mannat
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, whose son Aryan Khan is accused in the Mumbai drugs bust case, has left his residence Mannat after the Bombay HC announced the conditions for Aryan’s release on bail from Arthur Road Jail.
Aryan Khan May Be Released in an Hour or Two: Lawyers
Aryan Khan’s counsel told CNN-News18 that he may be released from jail in an hour or two as they started with the required formalities after the court announced the condition’s for his bail from Arthur Road Jail in the Mumbai drugs case.
Bail Conditions for Aryan: 1 Lakh PR Bond, Not Leaving Country
After being granted bail on Thursday, the court has now announced the conditions for Aryan Khan’s release from jail in the Mumbai drug case. According to the order, Aryan will need to execute a PR Bond of Rs 1 lakh with one or more sureties in the like amount. The order also requires him to “not indulge in similar activities, or establish contact with co-accused or similar persons, or make calls to people indulging in similar activities.” Aryan also cannot leave the country without prior permission and he cannot make a statement to media, including social media, regarding the proceedings. He cannot also leave Mumbai without informing his investigative officer.
As Aryan Khan Prepares to Go Home by 5:30 pm, Here's Jail Release Process & Team SRK's Tough Fight in Court
A day after the Bombay High Court granted bail to Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan in the cruise-drugs case, all eyes are on Aryan’s release on Friday. He was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai along with 7 others. Justice Nitin Sambre, who had granted the bail on Thursday, will be handing out a detailed order with reasons on why the bail is being granted and will also impose certain conditions. READ MORE
Aryan Khan Promises to Help Arthur Road Prisoners' Families?
Aryan Khan has now spent some 25-odd days in Arthur Road Prison and is all set to be back home with his parents Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan on Friday evening once HC order on his bail heads out. It has also come to light that Aryan, 23, was very happy once the news of his bail reached him in jail on Thursday evening. Not just this, Aryan has also promised to help the families of Arthur Road prisoners once he is out. Read More
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Arthur Road jail authorities on Friday said they will not accept any documents after their 5:30 pm deadline. Actor Juhi Chawla, who signed a Rs 1 lakh bail bond in court for Aryan, walked out of court at around 6:10 pm and said she was ‘relieved that it was all over”.The court has now announced the conditions for Aryan Khan’s release from jail. According to the order, Aryan will need to execute a PR Bond of Rs 1 lakh with one or more sureties in the like amount. The order also requires him to “not indulge in similar activities, or establish contact with co-accused or similar persons, or make calls to people indulging in similar activities.” Aryan also cannot leave the country without prior permission and he cannot make a statement to media, including social media, regarding the proceedings. He cannot also leave Mumbai without informing his investigative officer.
Aryan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month, a drugs bust that triggered a series of controversies and put the central agency and its officials under the spotlight.
However, Aryan has not yet walked out of the Arthur Road jail, where he is currently lodged under judicial custody, as the court is yet to give its operative order on the conditions imposed while granting bail. He is expected to come out of the prison either by today of Saturday.
A single bench of Justice N W Sambre also granted bail to his co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. “All three applications are allowed. I will pass detailed orders by tomorrow evening,” Justice Sambre said on Thursday even as Aryan’s counsel Mukul Rohatgi was putting forth his arguments.
Aryan’s advocates then sought permission to submit cash bail to which the court refused and said surety is to be given. Hearing on their bail applications started on Tuesday.
“I could have given the order tomorrow also. But I gave it today,” Justice Sambre said. The legal team of the 23-year-old Aryan will now try to complete the formalities for his release by Friday or Saturday. Justice Sambre said he would pass a detailed order assigning reasons later.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing for the NCB, commenced his arguments at 2.58 pm and completed the same a little after 4.10 pm. After the NCB, Rohatgi, a former Attorney General, started his rejoinder arguments which went on for about 15 minutes.
His arguments were cut short abruptly by Justice Sambre, who tossed the case related papers towards his staff and said, “All three applications are allowed.” This led to a scramble in the courtroom among media persons and lawyers to exit the room. While hearing the NCB’s arguments, Justice Sambre sought to know on what basis the anti-drug agency was saying that Aryan had dealt with commercial quantity of drugs.
To this, Singh said Aryan had made an attempt to deal with commercial quantity. “WhatsApp chats show this. The NCB has also obtained a certificate under section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act to authenticate that the electronic evidence has been collected from the accused’s phone,” he said. Singh argued that the NCB had got “secret information” that around 11 persons were going to consume drugs on the cruise, which was raided by the central agency on October 2.
“At the time of raid, out of the 11 persons, eight were apprehended and most of them were found with drugs. This cannot be a coincidence. This is why the NCB is saying it is a conspiracy,” Singh said. The court then asked if the NCB’s case is that of cumulative effect. Singh agreed and said, “Aryan and Merchant are connected with drug peddlers and hence cumulative effect attracts section 28 and 29 of the NDPS Act.”
Aryan, his friend Arbaaz and Dhamecha, a fashion model, were arrested by the NCB on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs, conspiracy and abetment.
The NCB opposed their bail pleas and argued that the case attracted conspiracy and abetment charges. Aryan’s counsel Rohatgi, however, said conspiracy means there has to be a “meeting of minds”. “Aryan does not know any of the other accused in the case except Arbaaz Merchant. There is absolutely no material to show conspiracy,” Rohatgi argued.
So far, 20 persons have been arrested in the drugs case. Singh argued that Aryan and Merchant are habitual consumers of drugs.
“Our record shows that Aryan Khan has been procuring drugs in bulk and commercial quantities. These are hard drugs. He (Aryan) has been in contact with drug peddlers,” the ASG argued. “There is a chance of tampering with evidence or witnesses in the case. This is NCB’s apprehension based on the affidavit filed by one independent witness in the case,” Singh said.
He further opposed Aryan’s arguments that there was no drug recovery from him and said there was conscious possession as he was aware that Merchant was carrying charas which was meant to be for consumption during journey on the Goa-bound cruise ship. Singh also said there was no need for the NCB to conduct a medical test on the accused to check for drugs as the agency’s case is not that they had consumed drugs.
“Why should the NCB test when we know that they have been caught for possession and conspiracy? The drugs were meant to be consumed later,” he said. The ASG said sections 28 and 29 (of NDPS Act) for abetment and conspiracy have been applied in the case based on the material available with the NCB which include WhatsApp chats.
Singh added that probe in the case was still on and the agency needs time to ascertain from where the seized drugs were procured. The ASG assailed the arguments made by Aryan Khan and Merchant’s lawyers on Wednesday that till date the charges of abetment and conspiracy have not been invoked in the case.
“The NCB’s first remand application that was submitted to the magistrate’s court on October 3, four hours after the accused persons arrest, and the other remand applications clearly say sections 28 and 29 have been applied in the case,” Singh said. “The arrest memo also says that the accused (Aryan Khan) has been arrested in connection with commercial quantity. This means conspiracy. So it is not right to say that the accused was not aware of inclusion of sections 28 and 29,” he added.
If there had been any error then the magistrate would have noted it while hearing the remand plea, the NCB counsel argued. “If the accused are now claiming their arrest is illegal then why have they not challenged the magistrate’s order remanding them to NCB custody,” the ASG said.
In a lighter vein, Singh said the accused persons ought not to have tried to do all this on October 2, which is considered a dry day owing to Gandhi Jayanti. “Drug menace is a serious problem in our society. It is a heinous crime that is worse than culpable homicide and hence has to be dealt with accordingly,” Singh said.
The drugs-on-cruise case triggered a slew of controversies related to the NCB and its officials, especially its zonal director in Mumbai Sameer Wankhede, who faced charges of extortion attempt to let off Aryan Khan. The central agency and Wankhede, who led the raid on the cruise vessel, have refuted all allegations levelled against them.
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