Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was on Thursday granted bail by the Bombay high court, 25 days after his arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month, a drugs bust that triggered a series of controversies and put the central agency and its officials under the spotlight.
Following is the timeline in the case:
October 2, 2021: Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha detained by NCB.
October 3: NCB arrests Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha and produces them before a magistrate's court for remand. Magistrate remands the trio to NCB custody till October 4, 2021.
October 4: Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha produced before magistrate and remanded to NCB custody till October 7. Five others arrested also remanded to NCB custody.
October 5: NCB produces four more accused for remand in the case. All remanded to NCB custody till October 11, 2021.
October 6: NCB arrests four persons who were allegedly part of the organising team for the event/party on the cruise. All remanded to NCB custody till October 14, 2021.
October 7: Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha produced for remand. NCB's plea seeking extension of custody rejected and the trio remanded to judicial custody along with five other accused.
Khan moves applications for bail.
Magistrate grants time to NCB to respond on the maintainability of the bail plea and adjourns case till October 8.
October 8: Aryan sent to Arthur Road prison in Mumbai along with Merchant.
Magistrate's court takes up the three bail applications for hearing. After a marathon hearing of around five hours, the bail pleas are rejected on account of non-maintainability.
Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha file bail pleas in special NDPS court.
October 11: Aryan Khan's bail application mentioned before NDPS court. NCB seeks time to file reply; plea posted for hearing on October 13, 2021.
October 13: Special Judge V V Patil commences hearing Khan's bail application.
October 20: Special NDPS court rejects bail pleas of Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha. Aryan Khan and Dhamecha approach Bombay high court seeking bail.
October 21: Aryan Khan's bail plea mentioned before Justice N W Sambre seeking urgent hearing. Matter posted for hearing on October 26, 2021.
October 26: Bombay high court commences hearing on bail pleas. Merchant also files bail plea.
October 27: Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha's advocates complete their arguments.
October 28: Bombay high court grants bail to Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha.
