NCB to oppose Aryan's bail plea in HC today | Economic Times

The Bombay HC will resume hearing the bail plea of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, and others on Thursday after the court adjourned the matter yesterday. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will respond to arguments made by former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and senior advocate Amit Desai who are appearing fro Aryan in the HC.The 23-year-old was arrested on October 3 by the NCB after it conducted a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. Aryan, along with others, is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai and will stay there unless granted bail by the court.During the hearing on Wednesday, Desai argued that the arrest is "illegal" and that the accused - Aryan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha - were charged only with possession of small quantities and consumption. "On the noon of October 3rd, all three, Aryan, Mercant and Munmum Dhamecha have been arrested for identical offences. Section 28 and 29 were not added at that stage. They were charged only with possession of small quantities and consumption. Even those who apprehended them, treated them as coming there individually, punishment for which is one year," Desai told the HC.Meanwhile Rohatgi on Tuesday had argued that six grams of charas (hashish) was recovered from Merchant and Aryan had no relation with him except for arriving with him there. "There was no recovery. There was no proof of consumption," he had said.Desai had also quashed the NCB's claim on conspiracy by saying there was no WhatsApp chat to support the anti-drugs agency's theory.. "So far as WhatsApp chats are concerned, it is abundantly clear that there are no WhatsApp chats to support the conspiracy theory," Desai said.Since the hearing on Wednesday went on for over two hours, Justice Sambre said the HC would hear Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, who is representing the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), today.Aryan's bail plea has been rejected several times so far. On October 20, a special court in Mumbai denied him bail following which his judicial custody in the matter was extended till October 30. The same day, Aryan's lawyers approached the Bombay HC for an urgent bail hearing.