[Aryan Khan drug case] NCB seeks additional time of 90 days to file chargesheet

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has approached a Mumbai court seeking extension of time to file chargesheet in the cruise ship drug case, in which Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is the prime accused. .The Central drug enforcement agency filed an application on Monday seeking 90 days more to file the chargesheet in the case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).The agency had registered the case on October 2, 2022 and had arrested 20 persons in the case. NCB had 180 days to file the chargesheet in the case, which is expiring on April 2, 2022. Since the agency has not concluded the investigation, it has sought extension of 90 days to file the chargesheet. Special judge VV Patil will hear the application this week..At the outset, the NCB SIT gave a status of the investigation:That reports of the 17 samples sent for chemical analysis and examination indicate that those samples are all narcotics and psychotropic drugs within the ambit of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. 69 statements have been recorded till date by the agency. 10 independent witnesses examined and 4 are remaining. 19 statements of suspects have been recorded till date..NCB SIT has sought for extension on the following grounds: The agency was yet to examine Kiran P Gosavi panch witness in the case as the agency was awaiting for requisite orders permitting them to interrogate and record statement. That another panch witness Prabhakar Sail also has turned hostile. Sail is a witness who deposed on affidavit, which NCB tried to bring on record in the case. That the 20 accused arrested in the case are from different field and walks of life and the SIT is still in process of recording their statements; many of the accused did not turn up for investigation on time which has resulted in unintentional delay. That some of the accused purportedly gave wrong passwords of mobile/ laptop/ tablets which are in the custody of NCB which is causing hurdles in extraction and forensic examination of the same is getting delayed.That the agency is also trying to find out details of contacts and addresses of the two Nigerian nationals arrested in the case.That the money trail and consideration paid for purchasing drugs is also underway, to unearth the financial angle.That statements of 15 key suspects (till date) are still to be recorded.That they have completed their investigation against Mohak Jaswal, Gomit Chopra, Nupur Satija, Abdul Kadar Shaikh, Chinedu Igwe and Okoro Uzeoma, while investigation against others is still underway..NCB initiated the case under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after it conducted a raid on the cruise ship, Cordelia Empress Cruise which was to leave for Goa from Mumbai International Port Terminal on October 2, 2021.After detaining and thereafter arresting Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, NCB arrested 19 more persons allegedly having nexus to each other and who were allegedly part of the drug trafficking conspiracy.Out of the 20 persons arrested, 18 persons are out on bail, while two continue to remain in judicial custody. Aryan Khan was granted bail on October 28, 2021.