As the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra continues to question the credibility of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the backdrop of Aryan Khan's arrest in a drugs case, a Shiv Sena leader has now moved Supreme Court seeking a judicial enquiry into the affairs of the agency and its officials.
The petition also seeks suo motu cognisance for the protection of Aryan Khan's fundamental rights, according to news agency PTI.
Filed by Mumbai-based Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari, the plea, as quoted by PTI, has called the probe against Aryan Khan "dirty vendetta affairs of the NCB at Mumbai and its officials targeting select film celebrity and few models since last two years."
The Shiv Sena leader said that a Mumbai court's decision to defer its decision on Aryan Khan's bail plea till 20 October on account of public holidays, had "led to big humiliation", leaving Aryan Khan in jail for 17 days "in an undemocratic and illegal way", NDTV reported.
The plea comes as Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik has been raising several questions on the credibility of the agency and calling it an attempt to divert attention from the drugs found at a port in Gujarat just days before Aryan Khan's arrest.
In a press conference last week, Malik alleged that the NCB has "malafide intentions" and is involved in "selective leaks" to frame people. Malik also claimed that the raid was 'fake' and no drugs were recovered.
Earlier this month, Malik had question how two private investigators, Kiran Gosavi and Manish Bhanushali, reportedly associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the past, were allowed to be present while arresting Khan and his friend Arbaaz Merchant.
What Does the Petition Say?
Tiwari in his plea, appears to target the agency's zonal director Sameer Wankhede, whose wife is in the Marathi film industry.
The petition seeks a judicial enquiry and investigation into "the malafide role and vendetta style of working of NCB officer whose wife is in competition with other film celebrity/ model against whom NDPS Act action taken by this biased NCB officer", NDTV reported.
"It's very relevant and painful to note that its incredible that someone remains inside (jail) for so many days without seizure of drugs or any other proof. No medical report of consumption, so no consumption," Tiwari added in his petition.
Aryan Khan has been lodged at Mumbai's Arthur Road prison since 8 October, after he was arrested by the NCB during an alleged drug seizure on a cruise ship off Mumbai's coast on 2 October.
A special court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases would pass order on Aryan's bail plea on 20 October.
(With inputs from PTI and NDTV.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)