The thin line between extortion and bribery has forced Mumbai police’s Special Enquiry Team (SET) to put an enquiry on hold. The SET was formed to enquire into the alleged extortion by NCB officials in connection with the drugs-on-cruise case to release actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan. The other reason for the police’s enquiry reaching a dead end is SRK’s manager Pooja Dadlani not appearing before them despite multiple summons. She has given medical reasons for not joining the probe.

The Mumbai police, which formed the SET last month, also took legal opinion and believes that Dadlani is not legally bound to appear before them as they are only conducting an enquiry and no offence has been registered. “We have recorded multiple statements and Dadlani's statement is very crucial to move ahead and register an FIR in the case because she is the victim. Either she or Shah Rukh Khan has to complain,” an officer said. “As Dadlani has not appeared before the SET, the enquiry has been put on hold and further legal opinion has been sought in the case,” another officer added.