Mumbai : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday once again opposed the bail plea of Aryan Khan in the cruise drugs bust case, this time in the Bombay High Court, saying the arrested accused being the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is influential and could meddle with the investigation process.
In an affidavit filed before Justice NW Sambre, the NCB claimed that Aryan and a woman named Pooja Dadlani, who is Shah Rukh Khan’s manager, were tampering with evidence.
The NCB affidavit said it appeared that Dadlani has so far influenced the ‘panch-witness’ in the ongoing investigation.
Referring to the affidavit of ‘Panch-Witness’ Prabhakar Sail, the NCB termed it as “clear instance of tampering, influencing witnesses amid ongoing investigation” and said Khan’s bail plea should be rejected on this ground alone, as well as also on merit.
The central agency in its reply-cum-affidavit also claimed that investigations have revealed Aryan’s international links which show that he is not a mere consumer as claimed by him, but prima facie point towards illegal drug procurements.
“The role of this applicant (Aryan Khan) in the commission of grave and serious offences under the NDPS Act including illicit drug trafficking is apparent, considering the nexus and connection of this applicant with the other accused in the case,” the affidavit said.
It added that there has been recovery of an intermediate quantity of drugs from the other accused in the case and hence, the case of Aryan Khan cannot be looked at in isolation.
“The ingredients of conspiracy are clear and evident,” the affidavit said, adding that in such cases the quantum of recovery of drugs from an individual accused becomes inconsequential.
The NCB also said it is still probing the case and a charge sheet needs to be filed.
It said the agency requires sufficient time to properly investigate the international links so as to approach the foreign agency concerned through proper channel, which requires some more time.
The NCB reply and the bail plea is now slated to be argued by Khan’s lawyers, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, along with senior advocates like Amit Desai and Satish Maneshinde.
In response to the NCB reply Aryan’s advocates submitted to the court an additional note stating that he has nothing to do with the allegations and counter allegations that are being circulated between the NCB’s zonal director Wankhede and certain political personalities.
“The applicant (Aryan Khan) does not make any allegations against any individual in the prosecution department,” the note said.
It further said Aryan Khan has no connection with Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the case, who has made allegations of extortion attempt against Wankhede and others.
Simultaneously, besides Aryan Khan, the bail pleas of two other accused, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha are also expected to come up for hearing later in the day, as all have been sent to judicial custody till October 30 by the Special NDPS Court.
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