In a huge relief to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, his son Aryan Khan has been set free from the drugs case in which the latter got arrested and faced incarceration. The development has won swift attention from across and beyond the borders and the junior Khan has been released from the case owing to a lack of evidence against him. 

According to reports, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has on Friday - May 27 not included the name of Aryan Khan in the charge sheet filed in the drugs-on-cruise case, in which he was arrested last year. Along with Aryan Khan, 19 others were arrested in the case and of them, all the accused, except two, are currently out on bail. The high-profile case has distressed the actor's family and Aryan Khan was let out on a bail after nearly one month of imprisonment. 

In an official statement, NCB has said, "Based on an input, NCB Mumbai had on October 2, 2021, intercepted Vikrant, Ishmeet, Arbaaz, Aryan, and Gomit at International Port Terminal, Mumbai Port Trust, and Nupur, Mohak, and Munmun at the Cordelia Cruise. All the accused persons were found in possession of narcotics except Aryan and Mohak."  

NCB has further said, "Initially, the case was investigated by NCB Mumbai. Later, an SIT (Special Investigative Team) from NCB headquarters in New Delhi headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, DDG (Operations), was constituted to investigate the case, which was taken over by the Special Investigation Team on November 11, 2021. SIT carried out its investigation in an objective manner. The touchstone of the principle of proof beyond reasonable doubt has been applied." 

"Based on the investigation carried out by the SIT, a complaint against 14 persons under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is being filed", NCB added. It had said that the complaint against the remaining six persons is not being filed due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Aryan Khan is among those whose names have been left out. 

On Friday, NCB has submitted the charge sheet to the case before the registry and the special NDPS court will take its cognizance after the verification of the documents. It has been reported that in March this year, the special court has granted a 60-day extension to the probe agency to file the charge sheet. It is pertinent to note that Aryan Khan was arrested in the case by the NCB on October 3, 2021, and he was later released from jail later that month after being granted bail. 

Veteran lawyer and former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi had appeared for Aryan Khan in the court and secured him a bail. After Aryan Khan was set free, Rohatgi cited that Shah Rukh Khan is relieved. Speaking to NDTV, Rohatgi said, "I am very relieved and so must be my clients, including Shah Rukh Khan. Ultimately, truth has prevailed." 

He stated, "There was no material to charge this young man or arrest him. No drugs were found on him. I am happy that the NCB acted professionally in admitting their mistake." "The anxiety it caused to the accused and his parents, it was a harrowing experience for him and his family", Rohatgi added. The reports say that NCB has filed the charge sheet as Friday- May 27 was the last day to file and they had already been given an extension by the court.