[Aryan Khan drug case] Alleged supplier linked to Arbaaz Merchant remanded to NCB custody for a day

A Mumbai court on Sunday granted Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) one day custody of a supplier arrested in relation to the cruise ship drug case in which Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan is the prime accused.

The latest to be remanded is Shivraj Ramdas Harijan who was arrested by NCB accusing him of having supplied drugs to Arbaaz Merchant, a co-accused and friend of Khan.

NCB arrested him based on revelation during custodial interrogation of Merchant.

A total of 19 persons have been arrested so far by the NCB and 9 persons including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan are in judicial custody.

Special Public Prosecutor Advait Sethna appearing for NCB, informed the holiday court that Harijan was intercepted on October 9 with a seizure of 62 grams of dark brown substance purported to be charas.

Based on the recovery and a voluntary statement which he made under Section 67 of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Shivraj was arrested.

Sethna also told the Court that the investigation at a nascent stage revealed a vital link in the supply chain of the contraband and a thorough investigation including custodial interrogation would be needed. He, therefore, prayed for Shivraj's custody for a day.

Advocate Sandeep Sherkhane for Shivraj opposed the custody stating that the remand did not contain all details. He also mused why Shivraj's name did not come up for so long since October 3, 2021, if he was linked to Merchant.

Having considered all submissions, holiday Magistrate SD Kamat remanded the accused to NCB custody till tomorrow.

Aryan Khan, who is the prime accused in the case, was arrested by NCB on October 2, 2021 after a raid was conducted on a cruise ship enroute to Goa from Mumbai, on allegations of consumption of drugs and criminal conspiracy.

The Magistrate Court had on Friday rejected his bail application and application of two others on the ground that the application was not maintainable before him.

Aggrieved by the order, Khan filed a bail application before the Sessions Court which is likely to hear it on Monday.