Mumbai: The Bombay High Court began hearing the bail plea of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan on Tuesday afternoon.
Arguing Arya’s case, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi refuted the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) conspiracy angle.
“There is no consumption, no possession, no recovery, why this boy has been sent to 20 days in jail? There is also no material that my client was financing illicit traffic,” he said.
Referring to his WhatsApp chats and the alleged international links, Rohatgi further said that cannabis is not banned in the US and other parts of the world as it has medicinal value. “The legislative intent is that if you are possessing and consuming and you go for rehab, then you have immunity,” he said
“If you apply Section 29 of the NDPS Act to 8C, 20 and 27, then the punishment for conspiracy is also only for 1 year. I refute that there is any conspiracy,” he added.
Lawyer Amit Desai submitted that the Whatsapp Chats between Aryan Khan and Aachit were about online poker. “There was nothing beyond communication about Poker”.
Also Read: Aryan Khan’s WhatsApp Chats Reveal His ‘Secret Rendezvous’ With Weed, Cocaine
“He mentioned gaming. My lords, remember rummy? SC has said it is a game of skill. Today lots of gaming is happening online. During the lockdown, lots of children were playing. It is also being considered by courts,” Rohatgi said, adding that they are unconnected events.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is being represented by ASG Anil Singh.
Aryan had moved the high court after a special court rejected his bail plea on October 20.
(With inputs from India Today and Live Law)