NDPS court rejects Fardeen Khan's plea

Mumbai, June 5 (UNI) A special NDPS court here today rejected the application moved by film actor Fardeen Khan demanding prosecution specify the amount of cocaine for which he will be tried, as it is not specified in the chargesheet.

Rejecting the application, Additional Sessions Judge P N Deshmukh said prima facie case has been made out against the actor and prosecution has already filed the chargesheet against him. It is the matter of trial proceeding.

Fardeen had moved an application before the special NDPS court on Wednesday last, contending that he was arrested when he was purchasing only one gram cocaine from a peddler.

The drug-peddler also backed the statement of Khan that he was only selling one gram to actor and remaining eight grams to some other buyer.

The actor was arrested by the narcotics control bureau (NCB) sleuths near Juhu area of the city during May, 2001 for illegal possession of cocaine.

A person caught with less than 26 gm of cocaine in his possession is termed a 'user'. It is alleged that about nine gms cocaine was recovered from Fardeen's car.

However, Khan, son of actor-producer Feroze Khan, was released on bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

Drug traffickers Nasir Abdul Karim Shaikh and Tony Gomes were also arrested by the NCB along with the actor.

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