Nawab Malik questions NCB's cruise raid, alleges BJP's involvement

Nawab Malik, a spokesman for the NCP and the state's minority minister, unveiled videos and photos of the NCB's action on Cardia Cruise. Malik alleged that Manish Bhanushali, who arrested Arbaaz Merchant, is the BJP vice-president, according to his Facebook account. Malik claimed that Bhanushali has pictures with BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other key BJP leaders. He demanded a clarification from the NCB.

Mumbai: In a new twist to the 'Cardia Cruise drug party' case, NCP leader Nawab Malik has claimed that the whole bust was fake and the officers involved in the raid were BJP workers and not NCB officials. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and several others were arrested by the NCB in connection with the case.

Malik alleged that the officers who arrested Aryan Khan and his friend Arbaaz Merchant were not from the NCB but from the BJP. Malik claimed that Arbaaz Merchant was arrested by BJP leader Manish Bhanushali. Casting doubt on NCB's operation, Malik asked NCB officials to clarify the connection between the BJP and the NCB.

NCB launched a major crackdown on Cardia Cruise's drugs party on Sunday morning. The NCB arrested eight people, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, in the case. NCB officials claimed to have seized cocaine, hashish, MD and ecstasy pills from the cruise party. The NCB arrested a dealer supplying drugs from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. So far 16 people have been arrested.

Nawab Malik, a spokesman for the NCP and the state's minority minister, unveiled videos and photos of the NCB's action on Cardia Cruise. Malik alleged that Manish Bhanushali, who arrested Arbaaz Merchant, is the BJP vice-president, according to his Facebook account. Malik claimed that Bhanushali has pictures with BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other key BJP leaders. He demanded a clarification from the NCB.

After the October 3 action, the NCB itself had provided a video of the action to reporters. That video clearly shows two private individuals being arrested. An individual identified as KP Gosavi had taken a selfie with Aryan Khan after his arrest that went viral.

After that, NCB tweeted that Gosavi was not in any way associated with the agency. Gosavi was later charged with fraud in Pune. Malik demanded the NCB to clarify its relationship with Gosavi, who introduces himself as a private spy in his Facebook profile.

Malik said that the Facebook profiles of KP Gosavi and Bhanushali have been locked, but they have traced Bhanushali's movements.

"Bhanushali had met some ministers from Gujarat on September 21 and 22. Thousands of crores of drugs from Afghanistan were found at Adani port on September 21. After that, on the 28th, Bhanushali once again went to the Mantralaya in Gujarat and met a minister named Rana. How did Bhanushali get involved in the same operation in Mumbai on October 3? What has Manish Bhanushali got to do with drugs found at Adani port in Gujarat? Also, how is Bhanushali the vice president of BJP? The answers should be given by NCB and BJP," said Nawab Malik.

Malik said that the photos of the drugs found on the cruise were taken at the NCB's Mumbai provincial office. However, according to the NDPS Act, a 'Panchnama' should be held at the place where the drugs were seized. He questioned why the photos or videos were not taken at the same spot after the drugs were found on the cruise.

Malik further alleged that the NCB, being a central body, worked well for the last 36 years, but is now acting on the signals of BJP. He also claimed that the NCB officials were eager to get instant publicity.