News Analysis India

Tag: Aryan Khan

  • My fight against Wankhede’s fraud, says Nawab Malik as Uddhav government mulls probe against NCB official

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik on Sunday reiterated his allegations against Narcotics Control Bureau’s Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and said that he firmly stands by his statements and his fight was against fraud and not religion or caste.

    He also accused Wankhede of taking away the opportunity of the SC and added that the ‘fight’ is against the ‘fraud’ and not his religion or caste.

    “I stand by my statement that he’s (Sameer Wankhede) on post by forging SC certificate. He snatched away a poor SC’s rights. Fight against fraud not religion/caste. I urge Arun Haldar (National Commission for SC, Vice-Chairman) to maintain his post’s dignity,” the minister said while speaking to reporters here.

    He had earlier accused Wankhede of falsely framing people under NDPS Act. Notably, Wankhede was investigating the drugs-on-cruise case involving Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan.

    “When I started (raising allegations against Sameer Wankhede), people I know told me to stop. They said that Shah Rukh Khan is being told that his son is trapped as he (Khan) speaks. My lawyer son was being brainwashed by other lawyers. He used to tell me to stop,” said Malik.

    Alleging that attempts were made to silence him, he added, “Some people said that matter relating to drugs involve money, goons and I could lose my life. Attempts were made to silence me. But I had said that we will take this to a logical end. If someone says they will kill Nawab Malik, then I’ll die the day I have to.”

    An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa on October 2. A total of 20 people were arrested in the case. Wankhede was given charge of investigating the case.

    Earlier on Thursday, Wankhede had moved Bombay High Court over the enquiry against him by the Maharashtra government in connection with the extortion charges levelled against him in the drugs on cruise case and demanded a probe by CBI or any central agency in the matter. The court had disposed of his petition.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde while reacting to the allegations that Wankhede faked his caste certificate for the job, said on Sunday that if the department receives a formal complaint, it will investigate the matter.

    “If someone objects to the validity of the caste certificate of Sameer Wankhede and files a complaint with the social justice department, we will probe the matter,” said Dhananjay Munde, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister.

    Malik who has been levelling various allegations on Wankhede since the Mumbai drugs-on-cruise case came to the fore, accused him of using a fake birth certificate to secure a government job.

    He had alleged that Sameer Wankhede was born a Muslim but he forged documents, including a caste certificate, to pass off as a Scheduled Caste (SC) person to get recruitment under quota after clearing the UPSC exams.

    He had shared the birth certificate of Wankhede on Twitter saying “Sameer Dawood Wankhede’s fraud started from here.” Following this Wankhede said he will fight Malik legally.

    Malik had also shared a purported picture of ‘nikah’ of Wankhede with his first wife Dr Shabana Quraishi.

    “Photo of sweet couple Sameer Dawood Wankhede and Dr Shabana Qureshi,” Malik had said in a tweet along with a photograph.

    In a subsequent tweet, the minister said, “Presenting shortly the ‘Nikah Nama’ of the first marriage of ‘Sameer Dawood Wankhede’.”

  • Cruise drugs case: NDPS court grants bail to seven more accused

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A special court here on Saturday granted bail to alleged drug peddler Aachit Kumar and six others arrested in a drugs seizure case, in which Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is one of the accused.

    Special court judge V V Patil, hearing cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, granted bail to the seven accused.

    With this, 12 of the 20 arrested accused have got bail in the high-profile case so far.

    Earlier, the NDPS court had denied bail to Aryan Khan.

    However, the Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to him and his two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha.

    The NCB had claimed that it had arrested Aachit Kumar based on the statements of Aryan Khan and Arbaaz Merchant.

    The agency has alleged that he used to supply drugs to Aryan Khan.

    The other accused whose bail pleas were allowed by the special court on Saturday are Nupur Satija, Gomit Chopra, Gopalji Anand, Samir Sehgal, Manav Singhal and Bhaskar Arora.

    The court’s detailed bail order is yet to be made available.

    On October 26, the special court had granted bail to two other accused in the case – Manish Rajgaria and Avin Sahu.

    They were the first ones to get bail in this case.

    On October 2, the NCB had raided the cruise ship and claimed to have seized banned drugs.

    Earlier on Saturday, Aryan Khan walked out of the Arthur Road jail in central Mumbai, where he was lodged for the last 22 days following his arrest in the case.

  • BJP plans to defame Bollywood and move it to Uttar Pradesh: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik alleged that the BJP has a larger conspiracy to defame Bollywood and Mumbai and later move the industry to Noida where Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath proposed to set up a film city.

    Attacking the BJP, the NCP leader said that the saffron party is using central agencies like Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and its zonal director Sameer Wankhede to defame and destroy the industry by levelling flimsy charges against Bollywood personalities along with harassing and forcing them to move out of Mumbai.

    ALSO READ| Will expose nexus between Wankhede and some BJP leaders: Nawab Malik

    “Bollywood is mini India where in people  from all parts of the country and globe happily stay and work. Mumbai has given name and fame to many hardworking and smart people irrespective of their religion and caste. The film industry has spread Indian culture across the globe and generated jobs for locals and outsiders. The BJP could not digest the glory and success of Mumbai and hence, are constantly attacking the city and its people,” Malik said adding that the BJP will not succeed in its malafide game plan.

    Malik said that the person who was arrested on fraudulent charges by Wankhede got bail and the person who was seen dragging Aryan Khan is now in jail for the cheating case. “The man who was threatening people for putting them in jail is now running for bail. The situation has changed and we call it Karma. Many more things will come out in public limelight against Sameer Wankhede and NCB,” the NCP leader said.

    Nawab Malik also levelled serious charges against Wankhede that he did not allow other honest officers of the NCB to conduct raids and take action against Kashif Khan, head of Fashion TV (India) who runs a drug and sex racket.

    “Kashif Khan is very close to Sameer Wankhede and hence, the latter will never take actions against Mr Khan. However, situations are slowly changing and we will expose all those who are a part of Wankhede’s extortion gang,” Malik said.

    ALSO READ| ‘Absolutely a lie’: Sameer Wankhede on Nawab Malik’s allegation

    Wankhede denied all allegations and said that these are lies being spread against him while his wife Kranti Redkar said that they will not speak on this issue now and will fight in court.

    Thank you @nawabmalikncp for taking a stand against the engineered campaign of hate towards the Hindi film Industry. It makes us feel less orphaned. Bollywood & Bombay/Mumbai are Intrinsically linked.This is the city of dreams after all & has sustained millions over the years.  https://t.co/seMh3WFRJE
    — Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) October 29, 2021
    Meanwhile, reacting to the minister’s remarks, actor Pooja Bhatt tweeted “Thank you, Nawab Malik, for taking a stand against the engineered campaign of hate towards the Hindi film Industry. It makes us feel less orphaned. Bollywood & Bombay/Mumbai are intrinsically linked. This is the city of dreams after all and has sustained millions over the years.”

  • ‘Rs 1 lakh personal bond, surrender passport’:  HC imposes 14 conditions for Aryan Khan’s bail

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A day after granting bail to Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, arrested in the drugs-on-cruise case, the Bombay High Court on Friday made available its operative order in which it imposed 14 bail conditions on him, paving the way for his release from jail.

    In the five-page order, the high court said that Aryan Khan and his two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with one or two sureties of the same amount.

    As per the conditions set by the high court, the trio will have to surrender their passports before the special NDPS court and shall not leave India without taking permission from the special court, and that they will have to attend the NCB office each Friday to mark their presence.

    A copy of the operative order was signed by Justice N W Sambre on Friday afternoon.

    This may help Aryan Khan’s advocates secure his release from the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai by evening.

    The single bench of Justice Sambre had on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan, 25 days after he was arrested during a drug raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    The court had said it would give its order on the conditions of bail and surety amount on Friday.

    A certified copy of the operative part of the HC order would be now taken by Aryan Khan’s lawyers to the special court, designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) along with the requisite documents and sureties.

    The special court, after verification, will issue release papers which would then be submitted to the jail for their release.

    The same conditions shall apply to Merchant and Dhamecha.

    The court said if the trio violate any of the conditions imposed then the NCB shall “straightaway apply to the special judge/court for cancellation of their bail.”

    “Each of the applicants/accused shall execute a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with one or more sureties in the like amount,” the order said.

    The court said the accused shall not personally or through anyone make any attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with the evidence.

    The high court directed the trio to surrender their passports before the special NDPS court and shall not leave India without taking permission from the special court.

    The accused should give prior intimation to the NCB before leaving Mumbai and shall provide with their itinerary.

    It added that Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha shall not indulge in any activity similar to the activities on the basis of which the present case stands registered against them for offences under the NDPS Act.

    The HC further said the trio shall not establish any contact with any of the co-accused in the case or anyone involved in similar activities.

    The trio would have to attend the NCB office each Friday between 11 am and 2 pm to mark their presence.

    The high court shall attend all dates before the trial court and also join the investigation as and when called by the NCB.

    “Once the trial begins, the applicants/accused shall not in any manner try to delay the trial,” the court said.

    While Aryan Khan and Merchant are lodged at the Arthur Road prison, Dhamecha is at the Byculla women’s prison.

    Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs and conspiracy and abetment.

    The judge will give a detailed order with reasons next week.

  • Aryan Khan to spend one more night behind bars; jail official says papers did not reach in time

    By Online Desk

    Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in a drugs case on Thursday, will not be released from jail on Friday. He will be released on Saturday morning, according to Arthur Road Jail officials.

    “We won’t give special treatment for anyone. The law is the same for all. The deadline for receiving the bail papers was 5. 30 pm. That has passed. He won’t be released today,” an official told PTI.

    The assertion by the prison official came even as there were indications from Aryan’s legal team that a “slight postponement till 7 pm” was possible.

    ALSO READ | ‘Rs 1 lakh personal bond, surrender passport’:  HC imposes 14 conditions for Aryan Khan’s bail

    “A physical copy of the release order has to be put into the bail box outside Arthur Road Jail for the release. The jail officials wait until 5.35 pm for this”, Nitin Waychal, Arthur Road Jail Superintendent, said

    Aryan Khan’s bail | A physical copy of the release order has to be put into the bail box outside Arthur Road Jail for the release. The jail officials wait until 5.35 pm for this: Nitin Waychal, Arthur Road Jail Superintendent pic.twitter.com/bV3fz9N7LD
    — ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2021
    While granting Aryan bail on Thursday in the drugs-on-cruise case, the Bombay High Court imposed 14 bail conditions on him, paving the way for his release from jail.

    In the five-page order, the high court said that Aryan Khan and and his two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each with one or two sureties of the same amount.

    The court has accepted Juhi Chawla, a co-star of SRK in many films, as the surety in Aryan’s bail and she signed the relevant papers and executed the bail bond before the court officials, said Aryan Khan’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde.

    Maneshinde said the Bombay High Court will send the orders directly to the jail after the court formalities are completed.

    Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had reportedly left in a small motorcade along with aides and security personnel to pick up son Aryan from the jail.

    Justice NW Sambre granted bail to Aryan and two others – Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha – on Thursday evening, but the bail orders were received only on Friday, paving the way for the trio to return home.

    Soon after the bail verdict was pronounced Thursday, SRK reportedly shed tears of joy, and later met his entire legal defence team which had been fighting for Aryan’s release for the past four weeks.

    The happy-go-lucky Aryan – who left home on October 2 for a fun-filled Mumbai-Goa cruise voyage, totally oblivious of what was in store – was suddenly detained after the NCB swoop, arrested the following day, and has been in custody since then – making it a total of 28 days that he slept away from his ‘Mannat’ bedroom.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Cruise drugs case: Bombay HC directs Aryan Khan to execute personal bond of Rs one lakh for bail

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday said Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs one lakh with one or two sureties of the same amount.

    A copy of the five-page operative order was signed by Justice N W Sambre on Friday afternoon.

    This would help Aryan Khan’s advocates to secure his release from the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, where he is lodged, by evening.

    Aryan Khan’s advocates will now take the certified copy of the HC order to the special court that is hearing the cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with the requisite documents and sureties.

    After verification, the special court will issue the release papers which would be handed over to the Arthur Road prison to secure Aryan Khan’s release.

    In its order, the high court has imposed 14 conditions on Aryan Khan and co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail.

    A single bench of Justice N W Sambre had on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan, 25 days after he was arrested during a drug raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    The high court had said it would provide a copy of its order on Friday.

  • Aryan Khan case witness, wanted in 2018 cheating case, arrested in Pune

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Pune Police on Thursday arrested Kiran Gosavi, an independent witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the drugs-on-cruise case, in connection with a 2018 cheating case registered against him here, a senior official said.

    Gosavi’s selfie and videos with Aryan Khan had gone viral on social media after the NCB’s raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2. Later, Pune police issued a lookout circular against him on October 14 in 2018 cheating case.

    Gosavi had been moving to various locations in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana while on the run. The accused was later produced in a Pune court which sent him to police custody for eight days.

    Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta said as Gosavi’s selfie went viral, it helped the cops to trace his locations before the arrest. “Gosavi did not surrender but was arrested by Pune crime branch in a cheating case of 2018. There are other cases against him as well. It took us 10 days to nab him. He was on run and moved from place to place in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

    Prabhakar Sail, the personal bodyguard of Gosavi, had earlier alleged that the latter took Rs 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the cruise ship. He also said that Sameer Wankhede and his close associates had demanded Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to release his son Aryan. Gosavi, however, had denied the allegations.

    The Pune police said on Thursday that there is no demand to hand over Gosavi to the Mumbai Police or any other agencies, including the NCB. Elaborating on the matter, Gupta said, “Kiran Gosavi was using ‘Sachin Patil’ as the alias to stay in hotels at various places. He used to tell people that he runs an NGO or a businessman into export and imports, etc,” he added.

    Before his arrest, Gosavi had shared his video message saying: “Prabhakar Sail is lying. All I want to request is that his CDR report be released. If my CDR report or chats can be released, CDR reports and chats of Sail and his brother should also be released. Only then everything will be clear.”

    Gosavi further said, “At least one minister or a leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra must stand with me”, adding that the politician(s) could “at least request the Mumbai Police to make public what I am demanding” (the CDR and chats of Prabhakar Sail).

  • Key witness in Aryan Khan case Kiran Gosavi sent to 8-day police custody

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: A Pune court on Thursday sent the key witness in the Aryan Khan case Kiran Gosavi to 8-day police custody after he was arrested in connection with a 2018 cheating case registered against him in the city.

    Gosavi’s selfie and videos with Aryan Khan had gone viral on social media after the NCB’s raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2. Later, Pune police issued a lookout circular against him on October 14 in 2018 cheating case.

    Gosavi had been moving to various locations in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana while on the run.

    ALSO READ | Aryan Khan gets bail in drugs-on-cruise case, to be freed on Friday

    Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta said as Gosavi’s selfie went viral, it helped the cops to trace his locations before the arrest. “Gosavi did not surrender but was arrested by Pune crime branch in a cheating case of 2018. There are other cases against him as well. It took us 10 days to nab him. He was on run and moved from place to place in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

    Prabhakar Sail, the personal bodyguard of Gosavi, had earlier alleged that the latter took Rs 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the cruise ship. He also said that Sameer Wankhede and his close associates had demanded Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to release his son Aryan. Gosavi, however, had denied the allegations.

    ALSO READ | Mumbai police set up team for inquiry into ‘extortion bid’ in Aryan case

    The Pune police said on Thursday that there is no demand to hand over Gosavi to the Mumbai Police or any other agencies, including the NCB. Elaborating on the matter, Gupta said, “Kiran Gosavi was using ‘Sachin Patil’ as the alias to stay in hotels at various places. He used to tell people that he runs an NGO or a businessman into export and imports, etc,” he added.

    Before his arrest, Gosavi had shared his video message saying: “Prabhakar Sail is lying. All I want to request is that his CDR report be released. If my CDR report or chats can be released, CDR reports and chats of Sail and his brother should also be released. Only then everything will be clear.”

    Gosavi further said, “At least one minister or a leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra must stand with me”, adding that the politician(s) could “at least request the Mumbai Police to make public what I am demanding” (the CDR and chats of Prabhakar Sail).

  • Picture not over yet, says Nawab Malik targeting Wankhede after HC grants bail to Aryan Khan

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: After the Bombay High Court granted bail to Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in the cruise drugs case, Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Thursday continued to target NCB’s zonal director Sameer Wankhede, saying the picture is not over yet.

    Tweeting in Hindi, Malik said, “Picture abhi baaki hai (The picture is not over yet).”

    The HC granted bail to Aryan Khan and his two co-accused over three weeks after their arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

    Aryan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were arrested by the anti-drugs agency on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs, conspiracy and abetment.

    Malik, the state minority affairs minister, has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs case as “fake” and levelled various allegations against Wankhede, including illegal phone tapping and using forged documents to secure job.

    In a video message circulated to media on Thursday, Malik said, “The officer (Wankhede) who arrested Aryan Khan and others has now approached the Bombay High Court requesting a restraining order against Mumbai police from arresting him. He had approached Mumbai police in the last week requesting protection. He must have done something really wrong and that is why he is afraid of action against him.”

    “The Mumbai police have informed the Bombay High Court that they would issue a notice of his arrest 72 hours prior if they intend to take any such action. I reiterate my earlier comments that this drug case is completely bogus. The kids were deliberately framed in this case,” Malik said.

    “If the case comes before the Bombay High Court, it will get squashed,” the minister added.

    Two other persons arrested in the case were granted bail a day before by the NDPS court, Malik said, alleging that all the arrested persons were eligible to get bail in this case, but the NCB prosecutor was making fresh claims in the case to delay the bail.

    Wankhede filed a petition in the high court and sought an urgent hearing, saying he feared arrest by police over allegations of extortion against him in the case related to alleged drug bust on a cruise ship.

    But the Mumbai Police assured the HC that it will not arrest Wankhede without giving him three days’ notice.

    Earlier, the NCP leader had levelled various allegations against Wankhede, including illegal phone tapping and use of forged documents to secure job.

  • Aryan Khan gets bail in drugs-on-cruise case, to be freed on Friday

    By Online Desk

    The Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha in the drugs-on-cruise case. They will be freed on Friday.

    The hearing that entered its third day on Thursday saw Additional Solicitor General of India (ASG) Anil Singh, representing the NCB, arguing their case. The hearing on bail applications of Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha before Justice N W Sambre remained incomplete on the second day. Khan and the other two are in jail since October 3 after the NCB raided a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and allegedly recovered narcotic drugs.

    While Aryan’s legal team has maintained that the NCB did not find any drugs in the star kid’s possession nor could they prove that he consumed any, the ASG, in his argument on Thursday said, “Our case is not of consumption but of possession.”

    The NCB spoke about Aryan Khan and others of being accused of a conspiracy, but it never pressed that charge officially following their arrest in a drugs case, their lawyer told the court during bail hearing on Wednesday.

    ALSO READ | More trouble brewing for Sameer Wankhede? Another drug case witness alleges being forced to sign blank pages

    Responding to Aryan Khan’s lawyer Mukul Rohatgi’s argument that the arrest is illegal, ASG Anil Singh said, “Three remand orders of the magistrate have not been challenged. So now the accused cannot say the arrest is illegal.”

    Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Aryan Khan, had earlier argued that the arrest was a direct infringement of constitutional provisions as the arrest memo did not give the “true and correct grounds”.

    Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for Merchant, pointed out that the special court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on Tuesday granted bail to two other accused in the case — Manish Rajgaria and Avin Sahu. “The allegations against them are also the same. In fact, there was a recovery of 2.6 grams of ganja (cannabis) from one of the accused and the second had said that he had consumed,” Desai said.

    “If not on (the ground of) parity but on liberty these boys (Aryan Khan and Merchant) should be granted bail. Release them on bail with strict conditions,” Desai argued.

    He further told the court that the charge of conspiracy and abetment was invoked in the case by the NCB as an afterthought.

    ALSO READ | Mumbai police set up team for inquiry into ‘extortion bid’ in Aryan case

    Instead of arresting them, the NCB should have first issued them a notice under section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (under which an accused is asked to appear and record a statement in minor offenses), the lawyer said.

    “What was the need to arrest them at that time when conspiracy charge was not even applied,” Desai said, adding that the charge of possession of a small quantity of drugs only attracts one year’s imprisonment, so it was a minor offense.

    The NCB’s arrest memo of October 3 contained only sections 20(B) and 27 of the NDPS Act which relate to consumption and possession of drugs, and “there is no mention of sections 28 and 29 pertaining to abetment and conspiracy,” advocate Desai said.

    “So as per the NCB’s assessment of material based on recovery at that time. These three individuals were doing individual acts of consumption and possession,” Desai said, claiming further that to date the charge of conspiracy has not been officially invoked against the trio. The magistrate on October 3 was misled by the NCB to believe that conspiracy charge was also invoked while seeking their remand,” he said.

    Merchant’s alleged statement that he had on him six grams of charas for consumption along with Aryan was inadmissible as evidence, and the NCB never sent them for medical examination, the lawyer said.

    The court asked if there was any connection between the two co-accused who have got bail, and Aryan Khan and Merchant. Desai said there was absolutely no connection. “There are no WhatsApp chats between these three accused with the other accused. The WhatsApp chats being relied upon by the NCB are old and have no connection with this case,” the lawyer added.

    These alleged WhatsApp chats of Aryan and others were provided to the media but were not part of court records, he said, questioning their veracity.

    Justice Sambre said the United Kingdom has done away with the need to supply a certificate to prove the authenticity of electronic evidence, but the same is needed in India.

    Advocate Kaashif Ali Khan Deshmukh, appearing for Dhamecha, said she was made a scapegoat only because she was detained with Aryan and Merchant.

    “The NCB has made Dhamecha a part of the alleged drug network. She doesn’t even know these persons (Aryan and Merchant). She comes from a small town in Madhya Pradesh and is a fashion model,” he said.

    Dhamecha never consumed drugs and a medical examination can confirm it, her lawyer added. Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha moved the high court last week after the special NDPS Act court rejected their bail applications.