According to a new development in the Mumbai rave party case, Aryan Khan’s lawyer has said that he was a special invitee on the cruise ship and was screened twice by the staff.
Khan, who is Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son, was among the eight persons detained by the Narcotics Central Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai on Sunday.
The NCB has invoked bailable charges against Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. When Khan was produced before the court on Sunday evening, his lawyer Satish Maneshinde argued that contraband was not recovered from him when he was entering the cruise.
Maneshinde added that Khan was screened twice and was not carrying contraband. He told the court, “He did not have a ticket or a boarding pass, no allotted seat number or cabin. He reached the dock to board and the authorities screened him. His luggage along with that of his friends was also screened and nothing was found.”
Maneshinde claimed that the cops did not find drugs while searching Khan. He said that Khan was detained for questioning based on deleted and present chats, The Indian Express reported.
Special public prosecutor Advait Sethna said, “Prima facie investigation indicates that there is material in form of WhatsApp chats showing the nexus of these respondents (Aryan, Merchant and Dhamecha) with peddlers and suppliers on regular basis. ”
The NCB also submitted a case diary to the court and said that the chats were recovered on Day 1. Sethna said, “I am not venturing into the merits at all, not saying who is right, who is wrong. I am only requesting for a reasonable two days of custody looking at the circumstances and quantum of recovery.
Khan’s lawyer had said that he was “willing to settle” for the NCB to for 1-day custody and added, “I am neither found in possession, nor there is an admission of consumption, nor contact with any other person. Khan’s lawyer will be filing for bail today.