NCB gives clean chit to Aryan Khan and 5 others in drugs on cruise case

Special Investigation Team of the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) has dropped all charges against Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, and five others from drugs on cruise case. On Friday, the names were dropped from the chargesheet filed linked with drugs bust on a cruise ship off Mumbai coast in October last year.

Aryan Khan along with 19 others were arrested on October 3, 2021 on the cruise by Mumbai’s zonal unit of NCB, charging they all were “intrinsically connected to a conspiracy involving drugs”.

After filing chargesheet on Friday that dropped the names of Aryan and 5 others, NCB said in a statement, “SIT carried out its investigation in an objective manner. The touchstone of the principle of proof beyond reasonable doubt has been applied. Based on the investigation carried out by SIT, a complaint against 14 persons under various sections of NDPS Act is being filed. Complaint against rest 6 persons is not being filed due to lack of sufficient evidence.”

After getting input, NCB had intercepted Vikrant, Ishmeet, Arbaaz, Aryan and Gomit at the International Port Terminal, Mumbai Port Trust. Nupur, Mohak and Munmun were intercepted on the Cordelia Cruise. “All the accused persons were found in possession of narcotics except Aryan and Mohak,” it said. “Initially, the case was investigated by NCB Mumbai. Later an SIT from NCB New Delhi, headed by Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, DDG (Ops), was constituted to investigate the case, which was taken over by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 06.11.2021,” it added.

‘King Khan’ relieved

Aryan Khan’s lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said that Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan is “very relieved” with clearing of Aryan’s name. “I am very relieved and so must be my clients, including Shah Rukh Khan. Ultimately, truth has prevailed,” the senior lawyer said. “There was no material to charge this young man or arrest him. No drugs were found on him. I am happy that the NCB acted professionally in admitting their mistake,” added the lawyer.

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The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said in the chargesheet that no drugs were found on Aryan Khan and there was no “substantial evidence” to charge him and also the other five.

After being arrested in the NCB raid, Aryan Khan had spent 22 days in judicial custody after which he was granted bail.