Maha minister urges CJI for judicial probe into Aryan Khan drug case

In a letter to N.V. Ramana, Kishor Tiwari has alleged that an unnamed NCB officer has been acting against filmstars and models because of personal reasons

Aryan Khan: File picture

R. Balaji   |   TT  |  New Delhi   |  20.10.21: A Maharashtra minister has urged the Chief Justice of India to order a judicial probe into the manner in which a narcotics officer has been functioning and has levelled explosive charges against the backdrop of the arrest of Aryan Khan, the son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, in a drugs case.

In a letter to Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Kishor Tiwari has alleged that the unnamed NCB officer had been acting against filmstars and models because the investigator’s wife “is in direct competition” with them.

Tiwari has urged Justice Ramana to protect the fundamental rights of Aryan, who has been in custody since October 2.

Aryan’s lawyers have repeatedly said that no drugs had been found on him.

Aryan was among 20 people arrested from a rave party on a cruise ship bound for Goa on October 2 by an undercover NCB team.

Tiwari wrote: “I most respectfully pray to take suo motu cognisance on top priority to protect the fundamental human rights of Mr Aryan Shah Rukh Khan, an accused under the crime registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, New Delhi, and also order judicial enquiry and investigation into the mala fide role and vendetta-style of working of NCB officer whose wife is in competition with other film celebrity/ model against whom NDPS Act action (has been) taken by this biased NCB officer.”

“It is painful to note that it’s incredible that someone remains inside (jail) for so many days without seizure of drugs or any other proof. No medical report of consumption, so no consumption. I am very much surprised that how can Aryan be held in custody, when the maximum sentence would be one year, even assuming that he has taken drugs, but his fundamental rights… are to be protected till his conviction…,” Tiwari added.

Tiwari said the detention of Aryan, 23, was contrary to Supreme Court judgments that “bail is a right and jail an exception”.

“The mala fide, autocratic style, approach & dirty vendetta affairs of NCB officer at Mumbai, targeting select film celebrity & a few models since last two years is also a matter of big concern, given the fact that the officer’s wife at Mumbai is also a film celebrity having direct competition with the models & film celebrities against whom her husband NCB official is taking action under the NDPS Act,” Tiwari alleged in the letter.

“… I would like to request your honour to institute a special judicial investigation & enquiry to unearth the role of the NCB official whose wife is said to be instrumental in crafting cases against competitor film celebrity,” the letter added.

Last year, the NCB had summoned several actors in connection with a drugs probe in the aftermath of the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Sushant’s friend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, had been arrested against the backdrop of an unprecedented smear campaign.

Tiwari has raised the following issues for the consideration of the CJI:

⚫ The NCB officer whom Tiwari has not named is acting out of vendetta against select film celebrities and models.

⚫ The officer’s wife is a Marathi actress, who apparently has not been able to make it big in Bollywood. So, the ongoing probe seems guided by personal vendetta.

⚫In the past 15-18 months, why have only film personalities and their families, national and international models, producers and directors been targeted?

⚫ The alleged NCB seizures from the cruise ship are “miniscule” compared to the seizure of 3,000kg of contraband from the Mundra port in Gujarat.