Munmun Dhamecha, who was apprehended alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, and Arbaaz Merchant in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case, has been denied the custody of her electronic gadgets and mobile handsets by a special court. The court cited concerns that tampering with the software and hardware of these electronic devices could easily compromise the evidence they contain.
Reportedly, Munmun had sought the return of her confiscated belongings, but the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) special prosecutor argued that the electronic gadgets held crucial pieces of evidence such as voice notes and photos. Interestingly, despite the NCB’s objections, the court decided to return Munmun’s passport and bank passbook to her, with the stipulation that she could not travel abroad without the court’s permission. The court instructed the NCB to make photocopies of these documents before returning them to Munmun.
For context, Munmun was apprehended with 5 grams of charas intended for personal use when she boarded the Cordelia cruise ship in October 2021. Allegedly, the NCB found certain chat records on her mobile phone that hinted at her involvement in drug consumption. While Aryan Khan’s case was dismissed by the NCB, Munmun Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant still face legal proceedings.
This decision by the special court underscores the significance of preserving potential evidence in ongoing legal cases, even in the face of requests for property return by the accused parties.