26 days in custody, 3 weeks in jail. Aryan Khan finally makes bail
After spending 3 weeks in Arthur Road jail, Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan's fourth bail plea has been fruitful. The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. Aryan has now been in custody for 26 days and been in Arthur Road jail since October 8.
Aryan's third bail plea was rejected on October 20. Khan's legal team moved Bombay High Court. On October 26, the Bombay HC began hearing Aryan Khan's bail plea. Fresh arguments were made in court and Aryan was represented by former Attorney General of India, Mukul Rohatgi. Aryan is expected to be released from the Arthur Road prison on October 29, after the detailed High Court order arrives.
Along with Rohatgi, Aryan’s legal team now includes advocates Ruby Singh Ahuja and Sandeep Kapur, along with senior advocates Amit Desai, Satish Manshinde, Anandini Fernandes and Rustom Mulla.
WHAT PROSECUTION SAID: Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh represented the NCB in the Bombay High Court. His three main arguments were:
- Aryan Khan was found in conscious possession.
- Aryan was connected with drug peddlers.
- The arrest is valid.
ASG Anil Singh also provided a confidential file of Aryan's WhatsApp chats to Justice Nitin W Sambre.
WHAT DEFENCE SAID: Former AG Mukul Rohatgi said that the NCB cannot "lump together" all the different amounts of drugs found and say that "commercial quantity" has been recovered.
HOW BOLLYWOOD REACTED: After Aryan's bail announcement, Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to voice their thoughts.
THE O: After 26 days in custody, out of which 20 days were spent in jail, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's 23-year-old son Aryan will finally be walking out of jail. While the Bombay High Court's order sees widespread celebrations among Shah Rukh's fans, one cannot help but wonder how long a commoner in Aryan's place would have taken to make bail. This case has also brought to fore discussions on India's not-so-perfect justice system, where the process ends up becoming the punishment.