Fardeen Khan gets relief from HC

Mumbai, May 4 (UNI) Bollywood star Fardeen Khan today got a reprieve from the Bombay High Court, which directed the special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act court, trying him and two others for possessing cocaine, to consider all material placed before it by the prosecution while framing charges.

A single judge bench of Justice S C Dharmadhikari directed the special court to frame charges in accordance with the law.

The order is considered a relief to the Bollywood star, as it would revive his chances to go for de-addiction while giving a complete go by to the criminal prosecution, which entails a 10-year -sentence of imprisonment.

Fardeen had moved the Bombay High Court after the special court, while framing charges against him, had refused to consider the statement of another accused Nasir Shaikh in the case. He had disclosed that on May 5, 2001, Fardeen had approached him to purchase one gram of cocaine, when they were apprehended by the officers of Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) in Bandra.

The NDPS Act provides for sending persons, possessing less that two grams of cocaine for personal consumption, for de-addiction and completely exempts such persons from facing criminal trials.

Fardeen's chances for taking benefit of this provision in the NDPS Act are now brightened in view of the High Court order.

UNI