Aryan Khan Was Apologetic, His Friend Hid Drugs In His Shoe: NCB

Drugs-on-cruise case: 3 sent to one-day custody

- Mateen Hafeez

Mumbai: In its remand application seeking custody of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Arbaz Merchant, and Munmun Dhamecha, the NCB said the trio was arrested for consumption, sale and purchase of contraband under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. An official, however, said that Khan has been booked only for consumption under Section 27 of the Act, which attracts a maximum punishment of one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 20,000.

Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha were picked up late Saturday and were questioned at the NCB office at Ballard Pier. “Khan was apologetic when we asked him to accompany us to the NCB office,” an official said. They were taken for medical examination at JJ Hospital at 4pm on Sunday. Khan was wearing a black T-shirt and cap and wore a face mask. They were brought back to the NCB office within 40 minutes and produced before a holiday court at 7pm.

NCB officials said that they did not recover any contraband from Khan, but found a small quantity of charas in Merchant’s shoes. The duo was sharing a room in the cruise liner, the NCB said.

The remand application submitted in the court stated that the NCB has found WhatsApp chats “clearly showing the nexus of those arrested with suppliers and peddlers on a regular basis”.