Probe ordered into death of NCB witness Prabhakar Sail in Aryan Khan drugs case

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the sudden death of Aryan Khan drugs case witness Prabhakar Sail.

Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case, who made dramatic revelations about an extortion attempt in the case, died of a heart attack on Saturday, authorities said.

“Prabhakar Sail, 37, died of a heart attack at his house in Mahul (in Mumbai) on Friday evening,” a police official was quoted by PTI in its report.

He was transported to the civic-run Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, where he was pronounced dead, according to the official.

“The sudden death of Sail looks suspicious and I have ordered the DGP to probe the matter,” Walse-Patil said.

Police began an investigation by filing an Accidental Death Report at the suburban RCF Police Station.

Sail had been staying in a leased property in the Mahul region for the last several days, according to a senior police officer, who added that it was unclear why he had moved there.

Tushar Khandare, Sail’s lawyer, verified that he had a heart attack and stated that Sail’s family members do not suspect foul play.

Sail, who claimed to be NCB witness K P Gosavi’s bodyguard, said in his affidavit that he overheard Gosavi negotiating a Rs 25 crore pay-off arrangement to free Aryan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in an alleged narcotics seizure case.

Later, the NCB informed a court that Sail had become hostile.

On October 3, 2021, Aryan Khan was apprehended during an NCB operation on a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai. He and 19 people were charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for suspected drug possession, use, sale/purchase, conspiracy, and abetment.

Aryan and 17 others were granted bail, while just two others remain in judicial detention.

Dilip Walse-Patil, the Home Minister of Maharashtra, said the death appeared suspicious and has directed Director General of Police Rajnish Seth to launch an investigation, news agency PTI reported.