The Bombay High Court said there is “hardly any positive evidence” to show conspiracy between the accused as alleged by the Narcotics Control Bureau in its detailed order granting bail to three people, including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, Arbaaz Merchant, and model Munmun Dhamecha (NCB). Nothing objectionable in their WhatsApp conversations was found. After their arrest on October 2 following a raid on a cruise by the NCB, the three were granted bail by Justice Nitin Sambre’s single bench on October 28.
While no drugs were recovered from Aryan and allegedly small quantities of drugs were recovered from Merchant and Dhamecha, the NCB had stated that all of the accused, including others from whom commercial quantities of drugs were recovered, were “linked in conspiracy” to commit offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and thus drug recovery in the case should be viewed as a whole.
According to the court, there is no evidence that the three conspired to conduct an offence or that they had a meeting of minds with other suspects apprehended in the case. Even if an allegation is considered, the maximum punishment for consumption is one year, according to the court. Following the HC’s judgement granting bail to the three, the special court has released 12 others on bail so far. The NCB has arrested 20 suspects after raiding a cruise bound to goa.