It’s been a traumatic decade for Fardeen Khan. Not only did the once-promising actor fail to leave a mark on the box-office, but Fardeen Khan, passed away. A few days ago, another close relative of the actor died. But, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Bringing to end an over 11-year-old court battle, the NDPS court on Wednesday granted the actor immunity in a case of drug possession. Fardeen who underwent a de-toxification programme in November 2011 had applied for immunity under section 8(c) of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The grant of immunity means that the actor will not be tried in the drug possession case.
Dressed casually in a blue shirt and a pair of blue denims, the actor who been out on bail since May 2001, told Mumbai Mirror that the three weeks of de-toxification he underwent, though traumatic, helped him put his life into perspective.
“It made me think about my actions and consequences. The night I was arrested, in 2001, was a wake-up call for me. For the first time I realised that I have been irresponsible, haven’t thought of the consequences of my actions and how it will affect my family that loves me so much. It made a man out of me on many levels.”
Fardeen says his 11-year-long tryst with the law affected him on many levels – both at home and at work. “As my travel was hindered due to court-imposed restrictions, I couldn’t go where I wanted to. Besides, I lost out on endorsements. People who wanted to work with me on advertisements started to stay away from me. These two things contributed to my fears and made me anxious.” He says his father underwent a lot of grief over this.
“I’m sure he must be very happy wherever he is today.” So was there a moment when he felt he could sense respite? “The day when the charges against me were framed last October, the previous HC order that I could be charged only for purchase, meant that the trial court had to comply with the same. That, to me, was the day half my battle was won.”
On May 5, 2001, Fardeen was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for possession of cocaine. While Fardeen claimed that he had purchased only one gram of cocaine, NCB alleged nine grams were recovered from him and the alleged drug dealer.
However, Fardeen’s lawyer Advocate Ayaz Khan filed an application in court saying: “In the prosecution documents filed before the court like the seizure panchnama, the remand application, the reply to the bail application etc, the NCB has stated that the quantity of cocaine Fardeen was caught buying was 1 gm.”
