Fake case for publicity: Nawab Malik alleges BJP-NCB complicity in cruise drug bust case

Private people including a BJP worker were seen arresting suspects, says NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik

Making serious allegations against the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the arrest of Aryan Khan and others in connection with the Mumbai cruise raid case, the Nationalist Congress Party chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said that two private persons, including a BJP worker, were seen arresting the accused and the entire episode was stage-managed by the NCB.

Malik said the television coverage and photographs showed a BJP worker Manish Bhanushali arresting and escorting Arbaaz Merchant and other person named KP Gosavi was seen with Aryan Khan in a viral photo. He alleged that the photos and videos of the seized drugs released by the NCB were not taken from the cruise, but forged in the NCB zonal office.

Malik said Bhanushali was in Delhi and Gandhinagar meeting the BJP ministers in the last week of September. "The BJP should tell who he is. There are pictures in which Bhanushali is seen with the PM, BJP president Nadda, home minister Amit Shah and many senior leaders. The NCB should also tell us in what capacity these two people were seen during the so called raid and arrests," said the Maharashtra minister, adding that Gosavi claimed to be a private detective but has a criminal record as per information received by him.

Also Read: No drugs seized at cruise, Aryan Khan's panchnama manipulated, claims NCP

"The entire operation was false and carried out with the sole purpose of hogging publicity. Not a single gram of drug was seized from the arrested persons. No panchanama was done. Through various pieces of information it was also learnt a few days ago that Shahrukh Khan would be the next target. You know the relations between the BJP and Shah Rukh," Malik told media persons on Wednesday. He produced pictures and videos to support his claims.

"The BJP has been using all agencies including NCB to defame the state government and Bollywood. Mumbai's zonal NCB office has a mandate of busting international rackets, but it engages itself in matters that gets it publicity," Malik alleged further.

Earlier this year, Malik's son-in-law was arrested by the NCB. Malik clarified that his allegations against NCB are not motivated spite. "Nobody is beyond the law. No drug was found on my relative's person. He has been granted bail. One must read the bail order to understand the real case against my son-in-law."