Allowing an application filed by Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Bombay High Court has modified the bail condition to appear before the Narcotics Control Bureau every week. He was booked in a cruise ship drug case and got bail in October 2021.
Single-judge Justice Nitin Sambre was hearing the plea and exempted Aryan Khan from appearing before NCB every Friday which was one of the 13 bail conditions to be fulfilled by the three accused — Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha.
NCB did not oppose the plea but relaxation should be allowed subject to the condition that he should appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case in Delhi as and when he is summoned, provided a prior 72 hours notice is given.
“The counsel for NCB places on record reply, and he states that whatever is the modification can be granted in light of para 7 (of NCB reply). Sufficient notice is given. With aforesaid background, condition (i) and (j) stands modified. The applicant shall attend office at Delhi as and when summoned with a 72 hour prior notice,” the court said.
Aryan had sought modification in the bail conditions on the grounds:
- that since the investigation has been transferred to the Special Investigation Team, Delhi office of NCB, his visits to the Mumbai office could be relaxed.
- that every Friday when he visits the NCB office in Mumbai, he is accosted by the policemen due to the large presence of media personnel outside the office.
On October 28, 2021, Bombay High Court granted bail to Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha on 13 conditions.
They were booked under Section 8(c), Section 20(b), Section 27, Section 28, Section 29 and Section 35 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
