Substances seized in drugs on cruise case are narcotics under NDPS Act: NCB

The Narcotics Control Bureau NCB has said that the substances seized in the drugs on cruise case in which Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan is an accused are narcotics that come under the ambit of the NDPS ActThe probe agency on Monday filed an application before special judge V V Patil seeking a 90day extension to file a chargesheet in the case since its investigation in the highprofile case was still onThe probe agency in its plea has claimed that the chemical examination reports of all the 17 samples were received on March 12 which proved that all the contraband recovered during the raid are narcoticspsychotropic drugs within the ambit of the NDPS ActThe application further stated that some of the accused are highly influential persons and have incriminating chats with foreign nationals who are located outside India also Examination of such chats is in progress as foreign nationals are involvedDue to the severe COVID19 pandemic situation in the country from November 2021 to February 2022 the response has been delayed from the foreign agencies the plea saidThough the agencys plea didnt name Aryan Khan it had on multiple occasions during remand and bail hearings pertaining to the case claimed that the Bollywood superstars son was in touch with some persons who appeared to be a part of an international drug network for procurement of drugsDuring the initial investigation some international linkages pertinent to this applicant Aryan Khan have been unearthed which prima facie indicate towards illicit drug procurement The investigation requires sufficient time so as to approach the foreign agency concerned the NCB had said in an earlier affidavit while opposing Aryans bail Seeking time to file a chargesheet the NCB in its plea claimed that the investigation was almost complete with respect to six accused as their role is intertwined and interconnectedThese six accused are Mohak Jaiswal Gomit Chopra Nupur Satija Abdul Kadar Chinedu Igwe and Okoro Uzeoma it was statedThe examination and recording of voluntary statement of K P Gosavi the main panch witness during the two recoveries made on October 2 2021 is not complete as he is under judicial custody in other casesFurther the NCB said that the second panch witness Prabhakar Sail has turned hostile and his purported affidavit in this regard is still pending before the courtThus in such a situation examining Gosavi becomes necessary and pivotal to unearth the true and correct facts of this caseThe case involves 20 accused hailing from different parts of the country and due to restricted public movement during the third wave of the pandemic many of the accused did not turn up for investigation on time which has resulted in unintentional delay the plea statedAs the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday one of the defence lawyers sought time from the court for filing his reply saying he received the probe agency plea about an hour ago Following which the judge adjourned the matter till WednesdayOf the 20 arrested accused in the case two are in judicial custody while rest including Aryan are out on bailAbdul Kadar Shaikh 30 who is still in jail told the court that his mental social and financial health has suffered due to the caseIt is really difficult for me to cope with the situation Im the only earning member of my family They NCB can seek extension for as long as they want but let me get out of jail Shaikh in person told the courtIt is affecting me badly evidence is such that nothing can be tempered he arguedAryan Khan was named an accused in the case along with 19 others by the NCB last yearThe 24yearold was arrested by the NCB on October 3 following a raid on a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai The accused persons were booked under relevant sections of the NDPS for possession consumption salepurchase of banned drugs conspiracy and abetment among othersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever