MUMBAI: The cruise drugs case linked to Aryan Khan has brought into focus the legal acceptability of WhatsApp chats as digital secondary evidence. A few screenshots of chats were shown to the trial court judge by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to emphasise Aryan Khan's "involvement'' in an alleged international drug trafficking conspiracy. This formed the fulcrum of the case during his bail arguments before the special court.
The special NDPS court judge V V Patil said perusal of the chats showed "reference to bulk quantity and hard drugs." He said, "Prima facie material showing that Khan was in contact with persons dealing in prohibited narcotic substances" had been alleged. "Material on record shows incriminating material in the form of WhatsApp chat which shows the nexus of Khan with suppliers and peddlers," the judge added, while denying him bail in October 2021.
