Aryan Khan started smoking Ganja as student in the US
He said that he was suffering from sleep issues at the time and that he had read articles on the Internet claiming that Ganja (also known as bhaang, marijuana, grass, and other names) could assist. aryan said that he had been friends with another co-accused Arbaaz Merchant for the past seven-eight years and that both smoked Ganja and Hashish, unaware of what was ahead for him. aryan acknowledged to Arbaaz that he tried smoking Hashish (Charas) on occasion but did not enjoy it. aryan had driven to the mumbai International Cruise Terminal (ICT) in his Mercedes car about 15.30 (on Oct 2, 2021) to board the Cordelia Cruise with his buddies Pratik, Manav, and Arbaaz, and Arbaaz had promised to bring Hashish for the party.
Aryan claimed he was stopped by NCB IO ashish Ranjan prasad while crossing the check-in point at the ICT and even introduced to the then mumbai Zonal director Sameer Wankhede as a Gazetted Officer, who subjected him to a physical search after explaining his rights. aryan was found to be drug-free during the physical search, and he handed up his cellphone when the NCB demanded it. The officer asked aryan if he knew Arbaaz Merchant, to which he replied yes - and with whom he was to share a stateroom on the Cordelia Cruise ship.
When the IO inquired if he deals with narcotic drugs, aryan stated that he only consumes natural substances such as Ganja or Hashish. aryan also revealed that Arbaaz had taken out and handed over a small quantity of Charas to NCB IO ashish Ranjan Prasad, and that whatever was recovered (from Arbaaz) was for consumption only, and that it was most likely procured by him from Bandra, after which the NCB team tested the Charas with some kit and sealed it in a pouch. Later, the NCB team searched all of Aryan's and his friends' cabins and gave him with a summons to appear before the NCB mumbai Office immediately to give his voluntary testimony.