HC allows bail to Aryan Khan & 2 others in NCB's drug case; conditions & reasons tomorrow

In a breaking development in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case, on October 28, the Bombay HC has allowed bail to Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, as well as his co-arrestees Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. This comes after the Bollywood superstar's son was detained by the NCB on October 2 after a drug raid on the Cordelia cruise ship docked at Mumbai and heading for Goa. Following their custody at NCB, Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant were remanded to judicial custody at Arthur Road Jail since October 7 while Munmun Dhamecha was sent to Byculla jail. 

While the court will issue the detailed bail order containing its reasons for granting bail on October 28, along with the bail conditions, three days bail has been granted. Aryan Khan's counsel Mukul Rohatgi had been adamant on the argument that Aryan Khan did not 'consume' or 'possess' illegal drugs on board and he was not a part of any 'conspiracy' or 'drug trafficking', as alleged by the NCB. Notably, the bail hearing at the Bombay HC has gone on for 3 days. Earlier, a special NDPS court had rejected his bail plea on October 20 and his custody was extended until October 30. 

On October 25, Mukul Rohatgi was inducted into the case at hand and contended before the court that Aryan Khan was not a part of fellow offenders' deeds. He had argued that Aryan Khan only went to the cruise with Arbaaz with 6 gms of charas which meant 'nothing'.

Satish Manshinde speaks to Republic as Aryan Khan allowed bail

In an exclusive conversation with Republic TV following the allowance of bail, Advocate Satish Maneshinde, who had appeared for Aryan Khan initially in the NCB drug case, confirmed that only after the detailed bail order will the three accused would be released. Further, Maneshinde reiterated that nothing illegal was acquired from Arya Khan and that he was not in possession of any illegal drug. He stated that the Bombay HC believed their arguement and granted bail to the son of Shah Rukh Khan and two others. Also, Maneshinde stated that Aryan Khan and co-accused will be imprisoned for the night and be released only after the court's order is passed.

On the other hand, as Aryan Khan was allowed bail, the NCB said that it would peruse Court order to decide whether the anti-drug agency seeks to oppose it before Apex Court and the it's legal process upon consultation with their in-house legal department.

Sources have informed that the probable bail conditions are as follows: 

• The accused shall not indulge in any activity similar to the activities on the basis of which the said CR stands registered against him for offences under the NDPS Act. The accused and co-accused are barred to involve directly or indirectly in similar activities or contacting any person indulging in similar activities. 
• The accused shall not undertake any action which is prejudicial to the proceedings before the hon'ble Special Court (established under the NDPS Act)
• The accused shall not personally or through anyone make any attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with the evidence. 
• The accused shall surrender his passport before the Special Court immediately. 
• The accused shall not make any statement regarding the aforesaid proceedings pending before the Special Court in any form of media i.e. print media, electronic media, etc, including social media. 
• The accused shall not leave the country without prior permission from the Special Judge for NDPS at Greater Mumbai 
• If the Applicant has to go out of Greater Mumbai, he shall inform the Investigating Officer, and shall give his itinerary to the IO in advance. 
• The accused shall attend the NCB Mumbai office each Friday between 11 am to 2 pm to mark his presence. 
• The accused shall attend all the dates in the Court unless prevented by any reasonable cause. 
• The accused shall join the investigation as and when called upon to do so before the authorities of NCB 
• Once the trial begins, the accused shall not in any manner try to delay the trial 
• If the accused violated any of these terms, NCB shall be entitled straightaway to apply to the Special Judge/Court for cancellation of the bail bond