Legendary Indian DJ Aqeel has been charged with possession of a contraband substance after his arrest early Monday morning at Dubai airport, Dubai Public Pro-secution confirmed to XPRESS.

The Indian entertainer is currently being investigated at the airport detention centre by Dubai Public Prosecution. Details have not yet been revealed as they were stated to be classified.

A police sergeant at the Airport Police Detention Centre confirmed the well-being of Aqeel and said that the defendant was interrogated by the public prosecution yesterday morning.

“His case is currently under investigation by prosecutors of the airport detention centre and results of the investigation may take up to one week,'' stated a Public Prosecution spokesperson.

Ashish Mehta, DJ Aqeel's lawyer, spoke to XPRESS yesterday: “Aqeel arrived in Dubai on the night of June 3 and was allegedly charged with possessing 0.06g of ecstasy. He denied consumption and his blood and urine had no traces of ecstasy. He says that he doesn't know where it came from.

“He says it has been planted. He appeared before the prosecutor today and recorded his statement. The matter is under investigation. We have no facts before us independently verified. Whatever I have told you is what Aqeel told me this morning.''

He rubbished reports of police finding capsules in Aqeel's possession. It was reported yesterday in some local newspapers that Aqeel was “detained at the airport for allegedly possessing suspected drug capsules''.

Aqeel may be kept in detention pending investigation up to 14 days without access to any legal aid until the case is either dropped or referred to court.

Aqeel was arrested when he landed from Mumbai to play at the local nightclub Trilogy as part of the anniversary celebrations of a local radio channel, said a source at the radio station on condition of anonymity.

A prominent figure in Mumbai's high-profile party circuit, Aqeel is married to Farah Khan, elder daughter of veteran Bollywood actor Sanjay Khan whose younger daughter is married to Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan.

Speaking to the media about her husband's detention in Dubai, Farah Khan said: “My husband is innocent. He doesn't do drugs and has never done any. He was framed. Out of one million people who landed from Mumbai they caught him for possession of 0.4g of ecstasy. I am shocked because he doesn't do this.

“Antinarcotics told us,'' she added, “that the quantity found on him was less than what constitutes a dose. So right now we have a court case. We have hired a lawyer to get him out of this as soon as possible.''

Aqeel's mother-in-law Zarine Khan defended him saying. “My son-in-law is a very decent guy who never touches any kind of drugs.''

A well-known musician, Aqeel is admired by millions in India and the Indian diaspora around the world. Apart from giving hit remixes such as Mein Hoon Don and Keh Doon Tumhe he has also composed music for Bollywood blockbuster Shaadi No 1.

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By Awad Mustafa and Vikram Singh Barhat, Staff Reporters

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