A court on Thursday sent Aryan Khan and seven others in Judicial custody in connection with a cruise ship drug case filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The bail applications will be heard on Friday. Aryan Khan, Munmun Dhamecha, and Arbaaz Merchant were arrested by the NCB on October 3 while the other 5 were arrested on the very next day. Aryan Khan along with others were brought before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R M Nerlikar at the end of their earliest remand. Satish Maneshinde, Aryan KhanÂs lawyer, submitted a bail plea on the behalf of the actor. On the other hand NCB sought custody of the accused till October 11. 

The court rejected the NCB’s plea saying that “No progress is shown, no recovery is effected and whatever is alleged is seized.” “Simply remanding the accused to NCB custody without reason is cogent ground for violating liberty,” Chief Metropolitan Magistrate RM Nerlikar said.

During the court hearing, Additional general Anil Singh fought the case on behalf of NCB against all the seven accused in the drug case. Amid the last hearing Anil Singh has come up in the support of NCB for the only three of the accused. While giving his arguments the ASG pleaded for NCB custody for all the accused who are hiding a wider conspiracy. According to the statements given by Aryan Khan, Archit Khan was taken into consideration and is shown as 17th and a critical arrest in the case. 

ÂAll these people are connected in the same thread. Conspiracy and abetment. They canÂt be isolated. Total 17 people have been arrested now. Further NCB custody is required due to subsequent developments. NCB has arrested Archit Kumar with contraband. He has been named by Aryan. Confrontation with accused essential for further investigation. After the orders passed on 4th October, there has been further development. We have intercepted the organizer, supplier, other persons as well to establish the racket in narcotics and psychotropic substances, the NCB said.

ÂHow he had gone there, how he was invited, and whom he had met  for that purpose, am showing this statement. For the purpose of remand, this statement can be taken into consideration. It is on the basis of this statement, and on the basis of subsequent statements, Archit Kumar was arrested,” the ASG argued.

The defence, however, argued that the custody of the accused was not necessary to investigate the matter further. ÂThe law is, everyday, custody must be explained. Nothing has come ahead. They arrested one person yesterday. At least then, they should have confronted him. We were already in their custody. At least make an attempt to put me face to face. NCB is capable, has 100 officers, argued AryanÂs lawyer Satish Maneshinde.

Reiterating that Aryan was at the party as a VVIP, Maneshinde said on his behalf, ÂI have a friend called Pratik, who had informed me that I might be invited as a special VVIP as the shipÂs crew, not as an organiser. Pratik spoke to (organiser of the party) Aamir Furniturewala, who had requested Pratik to invite me, only with the intention to add colour to the party.”

ÂThere were 1,000 people on the ship. They have arrested only 17. It isnÂt that the entire cruise was full of people connected to the organisation. I was called to provide glamour to the troupe. I had no connection with Aamir Furniturewala or any other organiser, he added.

Satish Maneshinde says there is no fresh evidence in the court. And the chats that they have recovered are of  football and football does not count in drugs, says satish Maneshinde supporting his client.

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