The Narcotics Control Bureau exonerated Aryan Khan, star Shah Rukh Khan’s son, and five others on Friday, while charging 14 others in the drugs case stemming from the raid on the yacht Cordelia in Mumbai on October 2.
According to sources, the NCB’s Special Investigation Team found no evidence that Aryan Khan was involved in a wider drug plot or an international trafficking ring, and that the raid in which he was apprehended had significant flaws.
The SIT, led by Sanjay Kumar Singh, re-examined the case and determined that there is insufficient evidence to pursue it. It was formed after allegations that Aryan Khan was involved in extortion and efforts to extort money arose.
“SIT conducted its inquiry in a fair and objective manner. The standard has been set by the principle of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A complaint has been filed against 14 people under various provisions of the NDPS Act based on the findings of the SIT investigation. Due to a lack of proof, a complaint against the other six people will not be made,” NCB said in a statement. Except for Aryan Khan and another person, the rest of the accused were found in possession of drugs when the raid took place, according to the agency.
Aryan Khan’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, said his client’s arrest and 26-day detention were unlawful, especially since drugs were not found in his hands. “…no proof of any type was found.” There was no evidence of any kind of statutory infraction, let alone the NDPS Act. We are pleased that [the SIT]…investigated the case objectively and determined that there was insufficient evidence to submit a complaint [charge-sheet] against Aryan Khan.”
