Intervenors Oppose 'Preference' Given To Aryan Khan's Bail Application Before Bombay High Court

During the hearing of the bail application filed by Aryan Khan and others in the Cruise Ship Drug Case before the Bombay High Court, Lawyers appearing in two intervention applications opposed the bail application on the ground that Aryan Khan and others are getting a priority hearing.

Last week, the NDPS Court had dismissed the bail applications of Aryan Khan and others, who have been booked under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b) (purchase of contraband) 27 (consumption of contraband), 28 (attempt to commit offence), 29 (abetment/conspiracy), and 35(presumption of culpable mental state) of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Aryan Khan and others had thereafter approached the Bombay High Court seeking bail. The case was listed before Justice Nitin W Sambre.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi appeared for Khan while Senior Advocate Amit Desai appeared for Arbaaz Merchant.

During the hearing before a crowded courtroom, Advocate Subhash Jha and Advocate Amrish Sharma sought to oppose the bail applications while appearing in two separate intervention applications on the ground that Aryan Khan's bail application was being unduly given a priority hearing.

The Senior Advocates appearing for the accused opposed the intervention applications.

Advocate Jha said that he is appearing on behalf of a public servant and that "people are languishing in jails", meaning that their bail applications are not being given the priority that was allegedly being given to the Aryan Khan and the other accused in the case. He said that precedence is being given to the matter over the hundreds of other pending applications.

Advocate Jha indicated that he is expressing the sentiments of the Bar.

Justice Sambre responded to the applications by saying that whoever comes to his court gets a hearing and that he does not rise without completing his board.

The Judge also said that he sits till 7 pm as he is sensitive to the concerns of the Bar.

The Court then directed that other urgent matters, if any, on his board be called before concluding the hearing in Aryan Khan's case.

Aryan Khan's bail application was heard in part and has been adjourned to Wednesday for further hearing.