BREAKING| Aryan Khan Case : 'Can't Pass Blanket Orders', NDPS Court Disposes NCB's Application To Bar Cognizance On Witness's Affidavit

A Special NDPS Court at Mumbai on Monday observed that it cannot pass blanket orders to bar courts from taking cognizance of the affidavit of Prabhakar Sail, witness in the cruise ship drug case, in which he raised allegations about a bid to extort money for release of Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan.Saying that "no blanket orders can be passed", the Special Court disposed of NCB's application, giving liberty to them to approach the appropriate authorities for remedies.The Court noted that matter is sub-judice before the Bombay High Court and the authority must approach the concerned forum. It may noted that the Bombay High Court is slated to hear the bail applications of Aryan Khan and other accused in the case tomorrow.The NCB had filed the application today morning seeking a direction that "no cognizance of such purported Affidavit dated 23.10.2021 be taken or the same perused in any manner except in the form or manner directed by this Hon/ble Court or Court of competent jurisdiction, if at all".The agency also sought a direction that no action or cognizance be taken in furtherance of the said affidavit without the permission of the court, and to ensure that the sanctity of the investigation is not affected or interfered with by any manner.The Court said that considering the nature of reliefs claimed in the application, no such blanket orders can be passed."Considering the relief claimed in the application,no such blankets orders can be passed. It is for d concerned court or authority to pass appropriate orders at the relevant stage. Moreover, matter is subjudice before HC in bail applications in same CR. Therefore no orders can be passed as prayed. Hence application is filed and disposed off, accordingly", the order said.The NCB's application, annexed with an affidavit of its Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, stated that the witness's affidavit- which surfaced in the media on Sunday - was an attempt to undermine the ongoing investigation."The allegations of alleged extortion against NCB officials and money changing hands is a clear attempt to undermine the ongoing investigation and create pressure with mala fide and ulterior motive", the NCB said.The notarized affidavit of witness Prabhakar Sail, which emerged in the social media yesterday, stated that he was forced by Wankhede to sign blank papers at the NCB office as a panch witness in the case. Sail further claimed that he overheard KP Gosavi (another independent witness in the case, whose picture with Aryan Khan had gone viral) talking to another regarding plans to extort Rupees 18 crores and to give Rupees 8 crores out of it to Wankhede. He further claimed that he saw Shah Rukh Khan's manager meeting Gosavi, and that he had collected two bags of cash for Gosavi from a location, which had Rupees 38 lakhs.Later, the NCB Deputy Director General Mumbai said that the affidavit has been forwarded to the NCB Director General for "further necessary action" in view of the vigilance related allegations.

BREAKING| Aryan Khan Case : 'Can't Pass Blanket Orders', NDPS Court Disposes NCB's Application To Bar Cognizance On Witness's Affidavit

Sharmeen Hakim

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