Court rejects Fardeen’s plea in cocaine case

MUMBAI: Actor Fardeen Khan’s request to special NDPS judge PN Deshmukh, to amend the charge against him in a case of possessing cocaine, was turned down on Monday.

Khan was arrested on May 5, 2001, in Juhu, while purchasing cocaine from peddler Nasir Abdul Karim Shaikh.

The actor had asked the Narcotics Control Bureau to specify the amount of cocaine found on him when he was arrested. “The punishment is dependent on the amount of cocaine recovered from an accused,” said his lawyer, Ayaz Khan.

The chargesheet filed by the NCB says 9gm of cocaine was recovered but is ambiguous as to the amount found in the actor’s possession. On his arrest, Nasir had handed 9gm to the police and told them that he had sold 1gm to Fardeen. The latter said the same in his confession.

Ayaz Khan said, “Why is the NCB shying away from specifying the quantities when their regional director has written to their head office that Fardeen was liable for purchase of 1gm? The prosecution case is based on the accused’s confessions, which also speak of 1gm.”

Possession of only 1gm of cocaine considerably reduces punishment from 10 years (for 9gms) to six months or a fine of Rs20,000.

“I have not understood why the court has rejected Fardeen’s honest offer to stand by his own confession and that of his co-accused and avail of his legal rights,” said Khan.