The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in connection with the Mumbai drug bust case on board the Maharani ship of Cordelia Cruises. Aryan has been arrested under sections 8C, 20B, 27 and 35 of the NDPS Act.
He was also taken for medical examination at JJ Hospital in Mumbai today.
Early today, it was reported that Aryan was taken into custody along with seven others for questioning. Apart from Aryan, his close associates Arbaaz Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha, Nupur Sarika, Ismeet Singh, Mohk Jaswal, Vikrant Chhokar and Gomit Chopra are also being questioned.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has alleged that the NCB raid on a cruise ship in Mumbai and subsequent action against some people was an attempt to divert attention from the “real issue” of seizure of drugs at Gujarat’s Mundra port.
The party also demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the narcotics consignments at the port.
Last month, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2,988.21 kg of heroin, the value of which is likely to be ₹21,000 crore in the global market from two containers at the Adani-operated Mundra port in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed told reporters, “There is a news that the son of a Bollywood actor has been arrested. Where did this drug come from? NCB has come to the fore and suddenly it is saying that he has caught drugs from a cruise ship. ”
They are diverting attention from the real issue. He alleged that the real issue was the Mundra port, drug cartels in the country and drugs smuggled from Afghanistan.
He said, “They (NCB) catch some people around so that the media shows that matter, (which) will divert attention. But I want you all to write about Mundra port, why it is not investigated ? Why is it not investigated? What is happening there? Why is it ignored?” He asked. He claimed that there would have been no party (on the cruise ship) if medicines had not come from there (the port).
Demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the seizure of drugs at Mundra port, the Congress spokesperson said that drugs are smuggled into India from Afghanistan, which will fund terrorist organisations, separatist groups and ultimately lead to political infighting in the country. will cause instability.
He also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on drug seizure at Mundra port, which has happened in their home state. “Gujarat is becoming a hotbed of drug trafficking,” Mohammad said. He expressed apprehension that privatization of ports would lead to such activities.
The Maharashtra Congress welcomed the raid on the rave party aboard the cruise ship, but expressed doubts whether it was done to suppress the Mundra port drugs seizure.
“It is good if the government stops the smuggling of drugs and their consumption in the state. We welcome it. But at the same time, it should be noted that there has been no action or discussion on seizure of narcotics. ₹21,000 crore at the Mundra port in Gujarat. There is room for doubt whether such raids are being carried out to divert attention from last month’s seizure,” state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said.
He wanted to know what action is being taken in the Mundra port seizure case. “What are agencies doing to stop drug trafficking across international borders?” Londe asked.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said he has come to know about the NCB’s action at sea from the media and will comment on it as more details about the raids are awaited.
Don’t miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
.