Mumbai: Aslam Merchant, Arbaaz Merchant’s father, has claimed that his son and Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan are innocent and whatever the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) is linking them to the drug syndicate is baseless.

While speaking to TOI, Aslam Merchant, who is a practising criminal and civil lawyer, denied that his son was in possession of drugs. The NCB claims that they had found 6 gm of charas in Arbaaz’s shoes.

“These children are innocent and they have been framed. I am a lawyer. I have full faith in the judiciary and the allegations will be decided by the court,” Aslam said, adding that the duo don’t know Munmum Dhamecha—she was arrested along with them on Sunday.

Aslam further said that Arbaaz and Aryan are childhood friends and have gone together on several trips, including at Shah Rukh’s Alibaug farmhouse and Dubai.

“There is absolutely no WhatsApp chats related to drugs. They were not even prepared. It was just a last-minute discussion of going to the ship. They were invitees. They just decided out of the blue. He had breakfast with me and was supposed to have dinner with me,” said Aslam.

He added that he trusts his son Arbaaz, who recently completed his Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS), will not indulge in such an illegal act. “Arbaaz has been focusing on the family’s timber business,” Aslam said.