Aryan Khan Must Be Denied Bail As Attempts Made To Influence Witness, Tamper Evidence : NCB To Bombay High Court

Referring to the affidavit filed by NCB's crucial panch witness Prabhakar Sail the agency claimed that the affidavit was not filed on court but clandestinely distributed in the media.

The reply claims that Shahrukh Khan's manager seems to have influenced the patch witness Prabhakar Sail.

"Significantly, such purported Affidavit clearly names one Pooja Dadlani, (Shahrukh's) Manager connected to this Applicant. It appears that the said lady appears to have influenced such panch witness when the investigation is ongoing, such interference at the stage of investigation is a malafide attempt to ensure that the same is derailed and the quest of truth is obstructed."

NCB claims that they filed an application in the Special NDPS court pointing out how attempts were being made to derail the investigation as soon as this fact was brought to their notice.

The bail application should be rejected on this ground alone, the NCB states.

"Thus, the Respondent respectfully states and submits that as there are clear instances of tampering, influencing witnesses in the midst of an on-going investigation, the Bail Application be rejected on such ground alone."

It may be noted that NCB's plea before the Special court was disposed off with the special court saying it cannot pass a blanket order not to take cognisance of Sail's report.

The NCB further reiterated allegations that all the persons arrested in C.R. 94 of 2021 are inextricably connected with each other, insofar as their acts and commissions constituting offences under NDPS Act, is concerned.

On merits,NCB says that further investigation has revealed international linkages of Aryan Khan which prima facie indicate towards illegal drug procurement. The agency said that Aryan Khan's international linkages show that he is not a "mere consumer as is sought to be made by him". It is premature to hold that there is no evidence against him.

A single bench of Justice Nitin W Sambre will hear the bail application of Khan and co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha later in the day today.