‘Aryan Khan was in the wrong place at the wrong time’

On Monday, Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchantt and

Munmun Dhamecha

were produced for their second remand hearing in the cruise ship drug raid case. They were sent to NCB custody till October 7.

The NCB had sought custody till October 11 and in its remand application stated that “shocking incriminating material has been found on his phone in the form of pictures”, which talks about “procuring in bulk for further distribution.” The sections applied under the NDPS Act were 8(c), 20(b), 27, 28, 29. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NCB, read Rhea Chakraborty’s bail order where it was observed that offences under NDPS are non-bailable.

Also See: Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan arrest LIVE Updates


Advocate Satish Maneshinde, appearing for Aryan, said, “My bag was searched but nothing was found. After some time, they took custody of my phone and began interrogating me. Mr Merchantt is a friend of mine. This is a small quantity (six grams of charas). None of the other drugs was seized from us. The main seizure is from the other accused. I am not connected to others. Even if the offences are non-bailable as argued, based on Rhea's case, I am entitled to bail. There, Section 27A was invoked, for financing. If material is seized from other accused, that cannot be foisted on me. One of the grounds is that there is the seizure of total commercial quantity in the entire case. But that can't be used against me. According to them, I’m in the position of purchase. But nothing is recovered from me.”

Regarding the allegation that Aryan was involved in international trafficking, the lawyer said, “Now they say that when I was abroad, I have certain conversations in the phone and they want to bust an international drug trafficking racket. In the last one year, I've gone to my university. In the entire period, I have not indulged in any drug trafficking.”

Earlier, on Saturday, NCB officials raided a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai and held eight people for questioning, including Aryan. On Sunday, Aryan, Arbaaz and Munmun were arrested by the NCB and produced before a holiday court in Mumbai. The court sent all three to NCB remand for a day. The other five accused – Nupur Satija, Ishmeet Singh Chadha, Mohak Jaiswal, Gomit Chopra and Vikrant Chhokar – were also arrested later on Sunday.

Before Monday’s remand hearing,

Sameer Wankhede

,

Zonal Director NCB

, had told us, “NCB will seek further custody of Aryan Khan. I cannot reveal the links and the findings of last evening’s interrogation, but there are areas we need to investigate.” As to whether all eight accused will be questioned together or not, he said, “We use all techniques in our investigations, and will be using the same methods in this case too.”

On Monday, when the cruise ship returned to Mumbai, Wankhede and other NCB officials reached the cruise terminal and searched the vessel, an official reportedly said.

While most in showbiz maintained a studied silence, some have noted that the case is generating sensationalistic, voyeuristic pleasure. Others also extended moral support to the Khan family.

Had he not been SRK’s son, people wouldn’t have been interested in the case so much: Shobhaa De
It’s very indicative of something far deeper that needs to be investigated more thoroughly. And because it’s such a high profile arrest today, it is generating that kind of sensationalistic, voyeuristic pleasure in seeing whether Aryan is going to be actually arrested and how, what statement is he going to be signing. All of it, which has gone viral, has everything to do with his public profile, as the son of Shah Rukh Khan. But, the problem is very much there, and has been addressed perhaps not strongly enough, and there was no follow through after the Sushant Singh Rajput incident. This is the second such (case) which should act as a wakeup call, and what we have to remember, to start with, and that’s the most important thing, that whether it’s Shah Rukh Khan’s son, it’s Aryan Khan, or anybody else, due legal process is being followed... Had he not been Shahrukh Khan’s son, had it been just another arrest of a rich kid, I don’t think anyone would’ve been that interested in following this case.
(The comment was made during a discussion on NDTV)

He was at the wrong place at the wrong time: Sussanne Khan
I think this is not about Aryan Khan, as he was unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time, this situation is being made an example to drive home the excitement that some people get as they have a witch hunt on people from Bollywood. It’s sad and unfair as he is a good kid. I stand by Gauri and Shahrukh.
(The comment was inreaction to Shobhaa De’s post)

Bollywood gawking is a tamasha: Suchitra KrishnamoorthiNothing harder for a parent than seeing their child in distress. Prayers to all. For all those targetting #Bollywood remember all the #NCB raids on filmstars? Yes nothing was found and nothing was proved. #Bollywood gawking is a tamasha. It’s the price of fame.

Painful for parent to deal with child in trouble: Hansal MehtaIt is painful for a parent having to deal with a child getting into trouble. It gets compounded when people begin to arrive at judgements before the law takes its course. It is disrespectful and unfair to the parent and to the parent-child relationship. With you @iamsrk

The child should be given an opportunity, let the real reports come: Suniel ShettyWhen a place is raided, a lot of people are detained. We assume that the kids must have consumed or done something. All I want to say is that the process is on, let's give that child a breather. Whenever there is something related to Bollywood, the entire media starts reacting on every angle and assumes that everyone is like that. I think the child should be given an opportunity and let the real reports come out. Till then, he is a child and I think he is our responsibility.
(The comment was made on Sunday)