Aryan Khan Drug Case Updates: Bollywood rejoices as SRK's son gets bail after three weeks in jail

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Bollywood celebs express happiness as Bombay HC grants bail to Aryan Khan

Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, Sudhir Mishra, and actor R Madhavan were among the film personalities who on Thursday celebrated the decision of the Bombay High Court which granted bail to superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, over 20 days after his arrest in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

Dholakia, who worked with Khan in Raees took to Twitter and wrote, "Finally! Bail granted!  #AryanKhanDrugsCase Thank God!"

Madhavan, whose next film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect features a cameo by Khan, said as a parent he was pleased by the order. "Thank God. As a father I am so relieved .. … May all good and positive things happen," he wrote.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

No drugs found on Munmun Dhamecha, says lawyer

Munmun Dhamecha's lawyer told India Today, "No drugs were found on Munmun. I don't know why she was being tortured in the case and her image was tarnished."

Dhamecha was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Thursday.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

We waited for 34,560 minutes for this moment: Aslam Merchant

"We've been waiting for this moment for 34,560 minutes. My wife was counting minutes not days. These children have been traumatized," said Aslam Merchant, father of Arbaaz Merchant who was granted bail in drugs-on-cruise case by Bombay High Court on Thursday.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Bombay HC posted Aryan's bail order for tomorrow

A single bench of Justice NW Sambre also granted bail to co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. "All three pleas are allowed. I will pass detailed orders by tomorrow evening," Justice Sambre said.

Aryan Khan's advocates then sought permission to submit cash bail to which the court refused and said surety is to be given. "I could have given the order also tomorrow. But I gave it today," Sambre said.

The legal team of the 23-year-old Aryan Khan, who is presently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, will now try to complete the formalities for his release by Friday.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Bombay HC posted Aryan's bail order for tomorrow

A single bench of Justice NW Sambre also granted bail to co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. "All three pleas are allowed. I will pass detailed orders by tomorrow evening," Justice Sambre said.

Aryan Khan's advocates then sought permission to submit cash bail to which the court refused and said surety is to be given. "I could have given the order also tomorrow. But I gave it today," Sambre said.

The legal team of the 23-year-old Aryan Khan, who is presently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, will now try to complete the formalities for his release by Friday.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Aryan Khan, two co-accused in Mumbai drugs case granted bail

The Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan and co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha in plea against rejection of their bail applications by a special NDPS court in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case.

Operative part of the order will be made available by Friday with reasoned order. The accused will not be released from jail tonight.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Aryan Khan gets bails in drugs case after three weeks

Bombay High Court allows bail to Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. The court will pronounce detailed order with reasons tomorrow.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

No material for calling purpose conspiracy: Aryan Khan's counsel

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing applicant Aryan Khan to counter NCB's response said response. "There were 1,300 people on cruise. I did not know anybody else except Arbaaz and Aachit. Their (NCB's) case is - it is not coincidence and therefore it is conspiracy. Conspiracy is meeting of the minds. It cannot be based on coincidence. You (NCB) failed to prove meeting of minds with these eight people and therefore called them independently."

"If there are people in a hotel in different rooms and they smoke, are all people in hotel in conspiracy? There is no material for calling it a conspiracy in this case," Rohatgi added.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

WhatsApp chat shows Aryan attempted to deal with commercial quantity: NCB

Arguing on behalf of NCB, ASG Anil Singh said the WhatsApp chat implied that applicant Aryan Khan attempted to deal with commercial quantity.

"Even if he may not be found in physical possession, but accused Arbaaz was. Arbaaz is Aryan's childhood friend. He had visited Aryan's house and they went to international cruise terminal together where they were apprehended. Total eight persons, out of 11, were apprehended based on the secret note. When we apprehended them, multiple drugs were found from them."

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Only Arbaaz found in 'physical' possession of drugs but, Aryan was aware of it: NCB

Referring to the contention of applicant Aryan Khan that his friend Arbaaz Merchant was found in possession of drugs, and not him, ASG Anil Singh said, "My response is, though it was physically found with Arbaaz, Aryan had knowledge and he was aware of it. T̉herefore there was a conscious possession. Even if a mere attempt is made, charges can be applicable."

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Accused Aryan found in conscious possession of contraband: NCB

Putting forth NCB's arguments, ASG Singh also said: "There is a case that person might not have consumed the drug but if he's in possession of it can be booked under NDPS Act. Even conscious possession. Arbaaz is his childhood friend. He had gone to the house of Aryan. Both travelled from house of Aryan in the car till the international cruise terminal where they were intercepted. They were to stay in same room had they boarded the cruise. Accused Aryan was found in conscious possession of contraband."

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Aryan not a first-hand consumer but regular consumer since last 2 years: NCB

NCB's counsel ASG Anil Singh, opposing Aryan's bail plea, in Bombay High Court said, "Applicant Aryan Khan is not a first-hand consumer. He is regular consumer since last two years as per records."

Singh further added, "The records which are relied upon - one is secret note on information of drugs regarding 11-12 persons going on cruise. Out of 11, eight were apprehended. Voluntary panchanama, voluntary statement, mobile phone and WhatsApp chats on digital device, these are records even produced before special court. Aachit (accused no 17) is a drug peddler and he was apprehended later and not on cruise. My contention is that applicant having dealt with or even if attempts to deal with, then section 28 squarely applies and if he's is a part of conspiracy, then section 29 applies. So, the person who is not actually found in possession of drug but there was an attempt to deal with commercial quantity, is a part of conspiracy which relates commercial quantity."

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Aryan Khan regular consumer of drugs: NCB tells Bombay HC

Hearing in bail applications of Aryan Khan and others began at Bombay High Court. ASG Anil Singh representing NCB said: "Aryan Khan is a regular consumer of drugs. There is evidence to prove that he has been providing drugs." 

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Not a drug peddler but, zonal incharge: Sameer Wankhede tells Bombay HC

"I am not a drug peddler, I'am a Zonal Director. Give the probe to CBI or NIA but stop the vilification. The section specifically requires protection of a Central government officer. The law requires the court to step in and protect me if my rights are likely to be violated. They may arrest me today" said Wankhede's lawyer on his behalf.

Aryan Khan Drug Case LATEST Updates

Sameer Wankhede moves Bombay HC, seeks CBI probe

NCB's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede has filed a petition before the Bombay High Court for directions and relief against the probe into him in the alleged pay-off case, stating that investigation against him, if any, should be done by Central Bureau of Investigation.

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Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing on behalf of Aryan Khan, reaches court

Former AG Mukul Rohatgi, who is representing Aryan Khan in drugs-on cruise ship case, arrived at Bombay High Court on Thursday. The hearing on Aryan's bail application will resume shortly.

Sameer Wankhede not the investigating officer in Aryan Khan case, says NCB Dy DG

Deputy Director-General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Gyaneshwar Singh told India Today, "Let me clarify that Sameer Wankhede is not the investigating officer. He was supervising the case. There is the DDG above him and the DG is above the DDG. So in that chain, he is supervising. VV Singh is the investigating officer. After we submit our report, on the basis of that, DG will decide the next course of action."

Mumbai Police summons BJP worker who tipped NCB about cruise drugs party, reports India Today

Manish Bhanusali, a BJP worker who informed the NCB about the drugs party and was a key witness during the raids in which Aryan Khan and others were arrested, has been called for questioning by the Mumbai Police, India Today has reported..

This is the first summons issued by the Mumbai Police based on the complaint by witness Prabhakar Sail, who alleged that NCB officers had asked for Rs 25 crore payoff to release Aryan Khan.

NCB being used to 'defame, harass' people, says Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil

Maharashtra minister and NCP state chief Jayant Patil on Thursday claimed that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was being used to "harass and defame" citizens. Speaking to reporters in Ratnagiri, he also said that party leader and state minister Nawab Malik, who has levelled various allegations against NCB's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, was "bringing out the truth". 

Aryan Khan Bail Hearing Latest Update

The NCB said prima facie investigation has revealed that Aryan Khan used to procure drugs from his friend Arbaaz Merchant, also an accused in the drugs case. “The applicant (Aryan Khan) was in touch with some persons abroad who appear to be part of an international drug network for illicit procurement of drugs,” it said in front of HC judge Justice Nitin Sambre.

Sameer Wankhede's sister files police complaint against Maha minister Nawab Malik

Yasmeen Wankhede, the sister of Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, has filed a police complaint here seeking registration of an FIR against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik for allegedly defaming her, an official said on Thursday.  Sameer Wankhede is in the eye of a political storm following allegations of extortion in the high-profile cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested. The officer is facing the departmental vigilance probe.

Aryan Khan Bail Hearing Latest Update

Bombay HC to resume hearing today; Pune Police nabs NCB witness Gosavi

The Bombay High Court will continue hearing the bail plea of Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan who has been arrested in a drugs case, on Thursday when the NCB will present its arguments. Justice NW Sambre began hearing the bail application on Tuesday.