NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik stated that the case of Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan's arrest in connection to the Mumbai cruise drug bust case is a "matter of kidnapping and ransom" and has accused BJP leader Mohit Kamboj of being the mastermind.
In a press conference on Sunday, Malik said that "Aryan Khan didn't purchase the ticket for the cruise party. It was Pratik Gaba and Amir Furniturewala who brought him there. It's a matter of kidnappings and ransom. Mohit Kamboj is the mastermind and partner of Sameer Wankhede in demanding ransom."
He added that Shah Rukh Khan has been threatened from the beginning to not speak on the issue since his manager, Pooja Dadlani's involvement came to light in the extortion allegations.
In an appeal to Shah Rukh Khan, Nawaz Malik requested the actor to speak up and said, “Giving ransom if your son is kidnapped is not a crime.”
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In the press conference, Nawab Malik also stated the close nature of the relationship between Mohit Kamboj and NCB officer Sameer Wankhede and also revealed that both of them met at a cemetery on the night of October 7.
He also pointed out to the allegation that NCB has let go Rishabh Sachdeva, Pratik Gaba and Amir Furniturewala after detaining them from the Mumbai cruise party.
Malik said that Mohit Kamboj and Rishab Sachdeva shared the relationship of being brother-in-laws and added that, “entire (cruise drug bust) story lies in the letting off of these three people, including Rishabh Sachdeva”.
On allegations of him meeting Sunil Patil, Nawab Malik said, “I have never met Sunil Patil in my life. The photos Kamboj showed also included photos of Patil with Gujarat Minister Rana.” He added, “Sunil Patil had called me after my first press conference, saying that he wants to share some details. I had asked him to share it with the police. He had told me that he was stopped in Gujarat.”
Nawab Malik also alleged that the raid was, "the bigger conspiracy to defame Maharashtra government,” and questioned as to why Fashion TV India MD Kashiff Khan was not arrested as he was also on board.
"A paper roll that was a brand of Fashion TV was seized in the case, and it is being said the drug is consumed through that roll. Why was the owner not arrested?," Nawab Malik asked, adding, "The owner of this brand is Kashiff Khan. He is a partner of Wankhede and was present at the party."
Malik claimed that "Kashiff Khan forced our minister Aslam Shaikh to come to the party and was also planning to bring children of various ministers of our government to the party. If Aslam Shaikh had gone there, it would have been Udta Maharashtra after Udta Punjab."
Further, Malik shared details about Sam D’Souza aka Sanville D’Souza, whose telephonic conversation with the NCB official was earlier shared by the minister.
Questioning why his involvement was not being investigated, Nawab Malik said, “He (Sam D’Souza) was arrested in a drug case. There were transactions seen in his name. I have uploaded a telephonic conversation on Twitter. In spite of notices, why isn’t Sam arrested?”
Claiming that Sam D’Souza pad off money through hawala transactions, Malik added that he has WhatsApp chats that are evidence to his claims.
Also Read: Sameer Wankhede deboarded from cruise ship case probe
The NCP leader asserted that his fight is neither against the NCB or BJP, but against “what is wrong.”
“Peddlers are doing business and innocents are being framed,” said Nawab Malik.
The Maharashtra leader has also raised questions over the transfer of his son-in-law Sameer Khan's case from NCB's Mumbai zone to the central zone. “My Son in-law's report from the government forensic lab was challenged by the NCB. This is strange, as usually, it is usually the accused that challenges,“ added Malik.