Mumbai: The Bombay High Court recently rejected the bail plea of Bollywood actor Ajaz Khan saying his role in drug trafficking is disclosed by a witness whose statement was that “he was selling pills and he was exploiting young boys and girls, by supplying them drug”.

Justice Bharati Dangre in an order on August 30 said, “It can be seen that though there is recovery of small quantity of contraband from the applicant, he is connected to recovery of commercial quantity from the co-accused and, therefore, the case sought to be projected by the counsel (Satish) Maneshinde, cannot be accepted.”

Appearing for Khan, Maneshinde had argued that the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) had detained the actor in March 2021 but there were contradictions in the arrest time, and he had been “roped in …in a mala fide manner and the case against him, built by the prosecution, is based on conjectures, speculations and sweeping assumptions”. Maneshinde said a small quantity, 31 Alprazolam tablets, approximately 4.5gm, were seized.

Centre’s counsel Shreeram Shirsat, opposing relief to Khan, had argued that houses of the co-accused were raided and various other drugs seized and on their information, Khan’s house was raided. He said, “It is not only the quantity of Alprazolam which would make him liable but the complaint accuses him of his involvement in the chain of procurement, distribution, transport of the drug seized in commercial quantity and a serious apprehension is expressed that in case the applicant is released on bail, he will tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses and once again may involve himself in trafficking of drug.”

The HC order said, “Considering the drug to be a menace and considering that in the past also, the applicant was arrested in connection with a C. R. which invoked Section 8(c) read with Section 22(b) of the Act, though has been released on bail, since the quantity was found to be non-commercial quantity, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant would again indulge in similar activity, since while on bail in the previous C. R. , he has committed the present offence.”