The son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was granted bail over a high-profile drug case that led the actor to find himself at the center of the boycott movement
In this file photo from October 8, 2021, Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan
NEW DELHI — An Indian court on Thursday granted bail to the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in a high-profile drug case, leading the actor to find himself at the center of a social media boycott campaign.
Mumbai's high court said it would issue a detailed order on Aryan Khan's bail on Friday, meaning he was expected to spend another night in jail.
Khan, 23, and seven others were detained on Oct. 3 when anti-drug agents in India raided a party and seized drugs on a luxury cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai. He has been incarcerated in Arthur Road Prison in Mumbai since October 8.
The case has been going on for three weeks, and India's narcotics agency says it has evidence in the form of WhatsApp messages that Khan was involved in the illegal drug trade.
On Thursday, Anil Singh, a lawyer who appeared for the agency, told the court that Khan had a history of drug use and had contact with hawkers.
Mukul Rohatgi, a lawyer representing Khan, told the court that the agency had found no drugs at the time of Khan's arrest and that the allegations about his contact with drug dealers were untrue. Rohaji called Khan's arrest "arbitrary," adding that the agency did not conduct a medical examination to prove he had taken drugs.
The agency objected to Khan's bail request for the second time last week, saying it would affect their investigation because he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses.
The case has dominated media headlines for weeks and has caused disagreement on social media in India, with fans of the actor demanding Khan's release while others have called for a boycott of his father's film.
On Twitter, Khan and his father's name became a hot topic along with the hashtag #Bollywood Drugies. The case was also fully covered by a freewheeling television news channel in India, many of whom sided with narcotics agencies.
Shah Rukh Khan did not issue an official statement, but many Bollywood stars were on his side.
The 55-year-old is India's favorite star, known as the "King of Bollywood.". In nearly three years, he has starred in more than 105 films.
Last September, some of Bollywood's most famous stars were questioned by narcotics agencies over the death of famous actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Rajput committed suicide, and doctors and police ruled out drug use.