Mumbai: Mumbai High Court will hear the bail petition of  Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in cruise drug case. Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi will appear for Aryan Khan.

The Session court has dismissed the bail petition on the ground that WhatsApp chats of Aryan Khan will be  indicated,  "he is dealing in illicit drug activities of narcotic substances on a regular basis", so it could not be said he is not likely to commit similar offences while on bail.

On the other hand, advocates appearing for Aryan Khan contended that the NCB was "misinterpreting" his WhatsApp chats to implicate him.

Aryan Khan also questioned the special court's contention, while refusing him bail, that since he is an influential person he may tamper with evidence in the case if released from custody.

The case

Aryan Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on October 2, 2021, after the NCB raided a cruise en route to Goa from Mumbai.

Khan was charged with offences under Section 8(c), 20(b), 27, 28, 29 and 35 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He had been remanded to NCB custody till October 4 which was extended till October 7, 2021.

On October 2, NCB's zonal director Sameer Wankhede led a team of officers for a raid at the International Terminal of Mumbai Port Trust from where the Cordelia Cruise liner was to depart for Goa

Eight people were detained after the NCB allegedly seized intermediate and small quantities of cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), charas and Rs 1,33,000 cash.

Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were the first to be arrested. They were booked under sections 8(c) read with 20b (purchase), 27 (consumption)

28 (attempt to commit offence), 29 (abetment/ conspiracy) and 35 (presumption of culpable mental state) of the NDPS Act, after six and five grams of charas, was allegedly seized from Merchant and Dhamecha respectively. However, nothing was recovered from Khan.

So far, the NCB has arrested 18 people in the case and recovered commercial quantities of drugs, as well. The agency arrested several individuals after the cruise that was allowed to set sail following the raid, returned from Goa, on Monday. Those arrested include 10 guests, four-event organisers, two alleged suppliers and one consumer.