Aryan Khan Case - Independent Witness Sonu Mhaske Moves Mumbai Court Claiming NCB Threatened Him To Sign Blank Papers

An independent witness in the Aryan Khan drug case, Sonu Mhaske, has moved the Mumbai Court claiming that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) threatened him to sign on a blank panchnama.

Further, Sonu Mhaske has prayed before the Mumbai Court [Special Court under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act] to take cognizance of his affidavit in which several allegations have been leveled against the NCB and its officers.

Mhaske has alleged that he was working as a facility manager in the building [Lake Lucerne] when he received a summon from the NCB and was asked to sign the paper under the threat of the false implication in the criminal case and the arrest for non-cooperation.

He further alleged that he got a call from the officer of NCB, Mumbai, wherein he was asked to come and sign on a few documents otherwise, he would have to face dire consequences for refusing the same.

Further, as per the affidavit, the officer of NCB, Mumbai threatened him that if he doesn't cooperate with them, he would be arrested for non-cooperation and the Officer allegedly further said to him: "You don't know, we are police officers and will take you to the lock-up and you will not come out for a long time."

In the affidavit, it has been averred that Mhaske was asked to get another person from the society for signing papers, and after making them sign the papers, and also, certain blank papers were also signed by them, under the threat of the NCB officers. This happened on October 5.

It may be noted that 'Lake Lucerne', where he is working, is the same building where search and seizure against one of the accused in the Drugs case, Aachit Kumar was carried out. He has further alleged that he was not allowed to read the content of the memo.

Further, in his affidavit, he has also stated that on November 10, 2021, he was asked to come to the NCB office to record his statement.

He has also expressed his apprehension that, the NCB, Mumbai may record my statement against his wishes, violation and further, he is under constant threat of false implication in the Criminal Case by the NCB, Mumbai, therefore the Applicant / Pancha Witness don't want to go the office of the NCB, Mumba for recording the Statement.

It may be noted that earlier, Prabhakar Sail, a panch witness in the cruise liner drug case, had made startling allegations of extortion and pay-offs involving KP Gosavi( a private person at the NCB raid whose picture with Aryan Khan went viral), the investigating officer and NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and others, in a notarized affidavit.

Sail, claiming to be KP Gosavi's personal bodyguard, alleged that he was called to the NCB office and was asked by Sameer Wakhende to sign as a panch witness of the case and his signature was taken on 10 blank papers.