Reporting By: Amit Kashyap.
The Narcotic Control Bureau’s SIT has submitted its chargesheet in the 2021 Cordelia Cruise Ship Drug Case and has reportedly given a clean chit to Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son – Aryan Khan – and five others.
“SIT carried out its investigation in 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,” the NCB said in its press note.
“All the accused persons were found in possession of Narcotics except Aryan and Mohak”, the press statement said.
Apart from Aryan Khan, NCB has given clean chit to Avin Sahu, Gopal Anand, Samir Sehgal, Bhaskar Arora and Manav Singhal. Avin Sahu was a guest of the cruise ship and the other 4 persons were the organizers of the party.
Former Attorney General for India and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who had represented Khan in his bail plea before the Bombay High Court, said that he was happy that truth had prevailed.
“His honour has been vindicated. NCB should introspect as to why he was hastily arrested for no cause,” Rohatgi said.
Advocate Satish Maneshinde, who was part of the defence team along with Rohatgi and Desai, said that Khan’s arrest and detention for 26 days was unjustified, particularly when he was not found in possession of any drugs.
“There was no evidence of any kind; there was no material of any nature which was in violation of any law, much less the NDPS Act,” he said.
Maneshinde was happy that the Special Investigation Team under Sanjay Kumar Singh investigated the case in an objective manner and decided not to file a complaint against Khan for want of sufficient evidence.
“God is Great. Satyameva Jayate,” the lawyer remarked.
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Judgements In Criminal Law 