Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has levelled a series of charges against the NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede who is investigating the alleged drug bust case involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan.
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it will not arrest NCB’s zonal director Sameer Wankhede without giving him prior notice of three working days, in connection with the allegations of extortion and corruption leveled against him. Wankhede also moved to the Bombay High Court on Thursday, seeking interim protection from arrest or any coercive action against him. He sought an urgent hearing of his plea challenging the Mumbai police’s decision to form a four-member team to investigate the allegations of extortion and corruption against him, in the aftermath of the cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was arrested. The Maharashtra government initially opposed the plea but subsequently, chief public prosecutor Aruna Pai assured the court that it will give prior notice of arrest to Wankhede. “We assure the court that three working days’ notice will be given (to Wankhede) before arresting by Mumbai Police,” Pai said. The HC disposed of the plea following the state government’s statement.
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Bombay HC disposes of NCB Zonal Director Wankhede’s petition seeking CBI probe in extortion allegations
Bombay High Court on Thursday disposed of the petition of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the money extortion allegations levelled against him in connection with the drugs on cruise case. Earlier today, Wankhede moved Bombay High Court over the enquiry against him by the Maharashtra government and demanded a probe by CBI or any central agency in the matter. In response to this, the lawyer representing the state government told the court that there are four different complaints against Wankhede. “An ACP level officer is heading the enquiry which has just begun. We have not registered an FIR against Wankhede yet so the application is at a premature stage,” the lawyer stated. “As the petition is in respect to the Prevention of Corruption Act, we will give prior notice of 72 hours if we register an offence under the act,” added the lawyer. Following this, the court disposed of Wankhede’s petition after the state government’s lawyer assured that a notice of three days will be served prior to the arrest. Earlier, Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the Mumbai cruise raid case had alleged that the NCB Zonal Director and some other NCB officials had sought Rs 25 crores from Shah Rukh Khan in order to release Aryan Khan who is an accused in the drugs bust case. Meanwhile, the NCB team from Delhi will also question Wankhede to investigate allegations levelled against him. On Wednesday, the probe agency’s Deputy Director General (Northern Region) Gyaneshwar Singh said that Wankhede will remain the investigating officer in the drugs-on-cruise case until substantial information is found against him. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa on October 2. A total of 20 people including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, have been arrested in the case.
Mumbai | Bombay High Court disposes off NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede's petition after Maharashtra govt's lawyer assured the Court that 3 days notice will be given before arrest by Mumbai Police pic.twitter.com/6pUrjVHj6s
Sameer Wankhede’s wife writes to Maharashtra CM urging justice over ‘attack on her family’s personal life’
Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)’s Mumbai unit Sameer Wankhede’s wife Kranti Redkar Wankhede on Thursday wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urging justice, citing the “continued attack into her family’s personal life”. Kranti Redkar has also sought time from the Maharashtra CM to meet him but has not received any response yet. In her letter to Uddhav Thackeray, Sameer Wankhede’s wife said, “I grew up as a Marathi girl in view of Shiv Sena fighting for the justice of Marathi man since childhood. Learned from Balasaheb Thackeray and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that we must not do injustice to anyone, do not tolerate injustice on yourself.” “I am standing alone against those who are attacking my personal life privately every day on social media. We are being insulted by people every day. A woman’s dignity is being toyed with in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s state. Had Balasaheb been here today, he would not have liked it,” her letter in Marathi read.
I have sought time from Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in order to meet him. I have not received a response so far, I am waiting for a reply: Kranti Redkar Wankhede, Mumbai NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede's wife https://t.co/XsJY0Ipwoo
“He (Balasaheb) is not here today but you are. We see him in you, we trust you. I believe that you will not allow injustice to my family and me. As a Marathi, I look towards you with hopes of justice. I request you for justice,” her letter added. She further said, “I have sought time from Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in order to meet him. I have not received a response so far, I am waiting for a reply.” Notably, in the drug-on-cruise case, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik had accused the zonal director of NCB Sameer Wankhede of favouritism. Along with this, he also made serious allegations like extortion and has also raised questions on Wankhede’s birth certificate and marriage. Malik had posted purported pictures of the ‘nikah’ of Wankhede. The NCP leader also posted a screenshot of the ‘Nikah Nama’ of Wankhade with his first wife Dr Shabana Quraishi. Following this, Wankhede’s wife Kranti Redkar said that Wankhede’s ‘nikah’ had taken place and the marriage had been registered under the Special Marriage Act. Meanwhile, Sameer Wankhede’s sister Yasmeen Wankhede on Wednesday alleged that Malik has been stalking and threatening her online. She requested the National Commission for Women to register a complaint in the matter. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship, which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. A total of 20 people, including Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, have been arrested so far in the case.
