[Rhea Bail Hearing-LIVE UPDATES] Bombay HC Hearing On Bail Application Of Rhea Chakraborty And Others In NDPS Case

Maneshinde submits that the 'Baldev Singh' judgment was before 2001 amendment.

J Kotwal : I was expecting this submission. But the amendment makes no difference. The structure of Sec 37 remains the same.

Hearing resumes.

Maneshinde (lawyer of Rhea & Showik) now responding to Justice Kotwal's remark that 'Baldev Singh' judgment of SC has categorically held that all NDPS offences are non-bailable.

The hearing now stops for lunch break. To resume at 3 PM.

Maneshinde : Out of them, 5 accused are released on bail by the Magistrate's court on the first day itself only because Section 27A was not invoked against them. Of the accused in custody, apart from Section 27A, other offences are identical.

Maneshinde : CBI interrogated Rhea on multiple occasions. On August 28, NCB came into action. As on today, 20 persons have been arrested by NCB.

Maneshinde narrates the registration of FIR in Patna at the instance of Sushant's father. ED investigation started on PMLA charges. ED took into custody Rhea's phone, which was handed over to NCB alleging that the messages related to NDPS offences.

Maneshinde : There was no contact with Sushant after June 9. Rhea blocked his number. Unfortunately, he was found dead on June 14.

Maneshinde : On the 8th of June, there were messages exchanged between Sushant and his sister in Delhi, who advised him to take some medicines. Rhea objected to Sushant taking those drugs without doctor's prescription and they had an argument. Rhea left his home after that.

Maneshinde : After they travelled abroad and came back, he developed some mental issues. He was consulting about 5 doctors. It was revealed to doctors that he was consuming ganja. Doctors had advised him not to consume narcotic substances.

Maneshinde : Rhea was Sushant's girlfriend. She lived with him till the 8th of June.