Mumbai Drug Case: Ananya Panday summoned again by NCB on Monday

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in his plea in the Bombay High Court seeking bail, has said the NCB was "misinterpreting" his WhatsApp chats to implicate him in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month.

Aryan Khan, currently in jail, on Wednesday moved the HC after a special court rejected his application for bail. The HC will hear his bail plea on October 26.

In his appeal in the HC against the special court order, Aryan Khan said the Narcotics Control Bureau's "interpretation and misinterpretation" of the WhatsApp chats collected from his mobile phone was "wrong and unjustified".

The 23-year-old claimed no contraband was recovered from him after the NCB raided the ship and maintained he has no connection with any of the other accused in the case except Arbaaz Merchant and Aachit Kumar.

So far, the anti-drugs agency has arrested as many as 20 people in connection with the case.

The appeal further said the WhatsApp chats that are being relied upon by the NCB are "ex-facie (on the face of it) of a period prior to the incident".

"By no stretch of imagination can those purported messages be linked to any conspiracy for which the secret information was received," it said.

"The interpretation of the WhatsApp messages is that of the investigating officer and such interpretation is unjustified and wrong," the appeal said.

Aryan Khan also questioned the special court's contention, while refusing him bail, that since he is an influential person he may tamper with evidence in the case if released from custody.

"There is no presumption in law that merely because a person is influential, there is likelihood of him tampering with the evidence," the appeal said.

Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3 by the NCB along with his friend Arbaaz Merchant (26) and fashion model Munmun Dhamecha (28). 

The trio is presently in judicial custody. While Aryan Khan and Merchant are lodged at the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, Dhamecha is at the Byculla women's prison.

A special court, designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), refused to grant them bail noting that "they were part of the conspiracy".

The lower court had said Aryan Khan had a "nexus with drug peddlers and suppliers and had indulged in illicit drug activities on a regular basis".

Shah Rukh Khan's bodyguard was spotted entering the NCB office on Friday. Sources told Republic that the bodyguard had been asked by the NBC officials to come to office to share the documentation that were yet not submitted to the central agency, 

Sources told Republic Media Network that actor Ananya Panday has been summoned by the NCB for the third round of interrogation on Monday. Sources say that a decision will be taken only after the interrogation of the actor is complete. 

After 4 hours of interrogation, actor Ananya Panday along with her father Chunky Panday left the NCB office. This is the second time the central agency interrogated the actor in a span of two days in relation to her chats with Aryan Khan, who is presently in judicial custody. Shah Rukh Khan's son was arrested in Mumbai's cruise drug bust case.  

Amid ongoing questioning to Ananya Panday, sources informed that the NCB is expected to seek details of drug peddlers from the actor. After the major drug case was busted from the Mumbai cruise, the NCB had raided several areas of Mumbai and detained nearly 20 drug peddlers. A 24-year-old drug peddler was detained on Friday morning. 

Ananya Panday has reportedly denied reports claiming that she arranged Ganja for Aryan Khan and regularly talked about drugs on chats. "Ananya denied the supply related talks in the chat conversation and told the NCB officials that she has never consumed or supplied the drugs," ANI quoted NCB sources as saying.

Earlier, alleged WhatsApp chats revealed the two were talking about arranging 'Ganja'. 

Sources informed Republic TV that Ananya Panday yesterday informed NCB that she was 'just kidding' when chats revealed conversation over narcotics, particularly on Ganja. Currently, the actor is in the NCB office to record her statement on the second day. 

The NCB that had seized the electronics of Aryan Khan earlier due to which name of Ananya Panday came forward, also seized the devices of Ananya Panday yesterday. The details of the investigation are yet to be disclosed by the drug controller. Meanwhile, Ananya Panday is currently in the NCB office to record her statement.

At around 2.25 PM, Ananya Panday reached the NCB office where she was summoned for the second time at 11 AM on Friday. The drug controller is expecting to get some leads on the Mumbai Drug Bust Case where SRK's son Aryan Khan is the prime accused. Both's alleged WhatsApp chats show confirming that they can arrange narcotics. 

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Ananya Panday is currently on her way to the NCB office to record her statement for the second consecutive day. Sources informed regarding the alleged WhatsApp chats between her and Aryan Khan where the two are talking about arranging Ganja. Ananya Panday left her residence along with her father Chunky Panday a few minutes ago. 

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The drug controller had called Ananya Panday at 11 AM however the actor has still not reported to the office. Yesterday as well she was called for questioning at 2 PM but the actor had reached at 4.15 PM. Meanwhile, sources informed about the alleged WhatsApp chats between Ananya Panday and Aryan Khan that talks about Ganja and both confirmed that they can arrange the mentioned drug. 

The latest visuals show Ananya Panday leaving her residence in Bandra along with actor-father Chunky Panday to again record her statement at the NCB office. 

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In a major update, sources informed Republic TV that the NCB will be questioning Ananya Panday on her alleged WhatsApp chats with Aryan Khan. Reportedly, both were talking about Ganja. Top NCB sources informed Republic on the conversation between the two where Aryan Khan is telling Ananya - 'If Ganja required, can be arranged'.  
Ananya replied - She will arrange
According to NCB sources, when Ananya was questioned over the chat, she said she was just kidding with Aryan Khan
Sources also said that apart from this, there are many related chats where both are talking about narcotics substance on different occasions.

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In its drive to eradicate the drug issue, the NCB has been conducting back to back raids in several parts of Mumbai. The NCB raided and arrested a 24-year-old prime suspect who is said to be the drug-peddler from Mumbai on Friday at around 3:45 AM. Meanwhile, name of several prominent faces including Aryan Khan (who is currently lodged in the Arthur jail) and Ananya Pandey has emerged. The latter has been called for questioning today. 

Sources informed Republic TV that the actor on Thursday was asked about her connection with Aryan Khan, as her name has surfaced in his purported WhatsApp chats which are being investigated by the NCB. After questioning her and recording her statement on Thursday, the drug controller is scheduled to continue the questioning today. The actor is expected to reach the NCB office any time now. 

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Bollywood actress Ananya Panday along with her father Chunky Panday is expected to appear before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today at 11 am. She was questioned by the anti-drugs agency on Thursday for around two hours after the actress's name allegedly came across WhatsApp chats during its investigation against Shah Rukh Khan's 23-year-old Aryan in connection with the Mumbai Cruise Drug Bust case.

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According to the ground reports accessed by the Republic TV, the NCB is expected to investigate Ananya Panday on whether she was aware of the foreign connection on the drug bust case that had emerged during the investigation with Aryan Khan. 

The drug controller is swiftly acting upon the drug bust case and has detained several drug peddlers from Mumbai. Meanwhile, sources informed that the NCB is expected to cross-question Ananya Panday and drug peddlers. Chunky Panday's daughter and Starkid Ananya Panday is summoned by the NCB today at 11 AM for the second consecutive day. 

In the latest development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a 24-year-old drug peddler who is said to be the prime suspect of the Mumbai cruise drug bust case. 

Actor Chunky Panday's daughter, Ananya Pandey was summoned by the drug controller for the second consecutive day on Friday at 11 AM. Yesterday, the 'Pati Patni aur woh' actress was summoned at 2 PM however she reached NCB's office at 4 and left at 6.15 PM. The agency raided Panday's house in Mumbai's Bandra area after her name emerged from the alleged WhatsApp chats with prime accused Aryan Khan.

In the latest development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a 24-year-old drug peddler who is said to be the prime suspect of the Mumbai cruise drug bust case. The drug case was busted on October 3, after the NCB reached a high-profile party on a cruise ship that was en route from Mumbai to Goa. The party allegedly involving celebrities like Aryan Khan was busted by the NCB, and narcotic substances such as cocaine, hashish, MD were recovered. Over eight people, including Aryan Khan, were detained that day, followed by subsequent arrests of drug suppliers. Currently, another prominent personality- Ananya Pandey is being questioned by the NCB. 

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, in an exclusive conversation with Republic TV, affirmed the central anti-drug agency has not been targeting the Bollywood and related drug cartels. Snubbing rumours that the NCB is in a constant endeavour to target Bollywood celebrities' drug nexus and offence, Wankhede clarified that out of 27 individuals who have been arrested in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case, followed by Aryan Khan's arrest, only two or three people are known. 

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede said in an exclusive interview with Republic Media Media on Thursday refuted NCP leader Nawab Malik's claims of only targeting Bollywood actors. The NCB officer said that he is being personally targeted for leading the drug cleanup. Wankhede also alleged that he is being personally targeted 'because the honourable minister's relative has been taken to court'.

In a major development on Thursday, the Bombay High Court decided to hear the bail petition of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan on Tuesday, October 26. This came after bail pleas of Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were rejected by the Special NDPS Court on Wednesday. Aryan Khan's lawyer Satish Maneshinde pointed out that no drugs were recovered from his client and that there was no evidence against him. 

The drug case was busted on October 3, after the NCB reached a high-profile party on a cruise ship that was en route from Mumbai to Goa. The party allegedly involving celebrities like Aryan Khan was busted by the NCB, and narcotic substances such as cocaine, hashish, MD were recovered. Over eight people, including Aryan Khan, were detained that day, followed by subsequent arrests of drug suppliers.

In the latest development, the drug controller is probing the alleged WhatsApp chats between prime accused Aryan Khan and now summoned Ananya Panday. The NCB on Thursday conducted raids at the residence of Ananya Panday in Mumbai's Bandra area, intensifying the probe in the drugs case. The raid took place at the actor's Pali Hill flat. After the raid, Ananya was summoned by NCB for questioning. As per sources, more Bollyworrd personalities are under the NCB scanner as their names emerged in the investigation.

After Bollywood actress, Ananya Panday's name allegedly emerged in the Mumbai cruise drugs bust, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) quizzed her for two hours on Thursday and will continue the investigation today. The agency recorded her statement under Section-67 of the NDPS Act. The 'student of the year 2' actor's mobile phone and laptop were seized by the drug controller. 

Ananya Panday's name had emerged through accessed chats between prime accused Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and her. Aryan Khan is currently lodged in Arthur jail after his bail plea was repeatedly denied. A special court in Mumbai on Thursday extended Aryan Khan's judicial custody till October 30. Significant to note that Aryan Khan's sister Suhana Khan and Ananya Panday are close friends. 

Druing two hours of questioning, the actress was asked about her connection with Aryan Khan, as her name has surfaced in his purported WhatsApp chats which are being investigated by the NCB. She was questioned by the NCB on whether she knows anyone else in the group whose names have popped in the chats, sources said. The agency interrogated her and asked whether she knows anyone else who has been arrested in the cruiseliner drug bust case.