Tag: drugs-on-cruise case

  • Aryan Khan bribery case: CBI summons ex-NCB officer Sameer Wankhede

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has summoned former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede for questioning on Thursday in connection with alleged demand of Rs 25 crore from superstar Shah Rukh Khan to not implicate his son Aryan in the Cordelia cruise ship drug bust case, officials said.

    Wankhede, who has been booked along with four others in the case, is likely to appear before the CBI team in Mumbai, they said.

    According to details of the FIR made public on Monday, independent witnesses K P Gosavi and Prabhakar Sail, now deceased, were included by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Cordelia cruise ship drug raid on October 2, 2021, on the directions of Wankhede.

    Gosavi, his aide Sanvile D’Souza and others had entered into the conspiracy to “extort Rs 25 crore” from the family members of Aryan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, by “threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances.”

    In order to let him walk free, Gosavi and D’Souza negotiated the amount bringing it down to Rs 18 crore and even collected a token of Rs 50 lakh and returned a part of the amount later, the FIR alleged.

    Aryan Khan, who was formally arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, after a raid on the Cordelia cruise ship a day before, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28 after he had spent 25 days in jail. But his name was not included in the list of accused in the NCB charge sheet for lack of evidence.

    The SET (special enquiry team) in its findings, now part of the FIR, said Aryan Khan and other suspects were brought to the NCB office in Gosavi’s private vehicle on October 2, 2021.

    Wankhede, in the capacity of the immediate supervisory officer, had directed to take Gosavi and Sail as the independent witness in the proceedings against the accused in the drug bust case, the FIR states.

    He had directed then NCB superintendent V V Singh to let Gosavi “handle the accused” while taking him to the NCB office, thereby “allowing a freehand” to him and others in order to create a visual impression that Gosavi had the custody of the accused, it said.

    “It appeared that the presence of the independent witness Gosavi around accused persons was created intentionally in such a manner so as to give an impression that Gosavi was an NCB personnel even though there were NCB personnel to handle the custody of the accused persons,” the FIR stated.

    Gosavi was allowed to be present in the company of the accused persons and even allowed to come to the NCB office after the raid and took the freedom to click selfies and recorded the voice note of an accused.

    This position “allowed” Gosavi and D’Souza to enter into a “conspiracy” with others to allegedly demand the bribe from Shah Rukh Khan, officials added.

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has summoned former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede for questioning on Thursday in connection with alleged demand of Rs 25 crore from superstar Shah Rukh Khan to not implicate his son Aryan in the Cordelia cruise ship drug bust case, officials said.

    Wankhede, who has been booked along with four others in the case, is likely to appear before the CBI team in Mumbai, they said.

    According to details of the FIR made public on Monday, independent witnesses K P Gosavi and Prabhakar Sail, now deceased, were included by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Cordelia cruise ship drug raid on October 2, 2021, on the directions of Wankhede.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Gosavi, his aide Sanvile D’Souza and others had entered into the conspiracy to “extort Rs 25 crore” from the family members of Aryan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, by “threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances.”

    In order to let him walk free, Gosavi and D’Souza negotiated the amount bringing it down to Rs 18 crore and even collected a token of Rs 50 lakh and returned a part of the amount later, the FIR alleged.

    Aryan Khan, who was formally arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, after a raid on the Cordelia cruise ship a day before, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28 after he had spent 25 days in jail. But his name was not included in the list of accused in the NCB charge sheet for lack of evidence.

    The SET (special enquiry team) in its findings, now part of the FIR, said Aryan Khan and other suspects were brought to the NCB office in Gosavi’s private vehicle on October 2, 2021.

    Wankhede, in the capacity of the immediate supervisory officer, had directed to take Gosavi and Sail as the independent witness in the proceedings against the accused in the drug bust case, the FIR states.

    He had directed then NCB superintendent V V Singh to let Gosavi “handle the accused” while taking him to the NCB office, thereby “allowing a freehand” to him and others in order to create a visual impression that Gosavi had the custody of the accused, it said.

    “It appeared that the presence of the independent witness Gosavi around accused persons was created intentionally in such a manner so as to give an impression that Gosavi was an NCB personnel even though there were NCB personnel to handle the custody of the accused persons,” the FIR stated.

    Gosavi was allowed to be present in the company of the accused persons and even allowed to come to the NCB office after the raid and took the freedom to click selfies and recorded the voice note of an accused.

    This position “allowed” Gosavi and D’Souza to enter into a “conspiracy” with others to allegedly demand the bribe from Shah Rukh Khan, officials added.

  • Aryan Khan case: Sameer Wankhede closed bribe deal for Rs 18 cr, reveals CBI FIR

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which booked former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case, said that the deal was closed for Rs 18 crore adding that assets to Wankhade were not proportionate to his known sources of income.

    According to the CBI FIR copy, the NCB team head by Sameer Wankhede allowed people who were actually in possession of drugs and the supplier as well to go.

    The FIR copy said Arbaaz Merchant had confessed of possession Charas to NCB but he was allowed to go.

    Siddarth Shah who had allegedly supplied charas to Arbaaz Merchant was also allowed to walk free, the CBI FIR said adding that incriminating chats between the two were ignored.

    The federal agency said the accused were brought in a private vehicle. The private vehicle belonged to KP Gosavi (independent witness). This was done to show the accused that Gosavi was an NCB employee, though he was not.

    CBI claimed that Gosavi was allowed close proximity to the accused against the rules. An effort was made to extort Rs 25 crore, but the deal was closed for Rs 18 crore. Out of this Rs 50 lakh was paid in advance.

    Other corruption charges against Sameer Wamkhade and other NCB Officials were also in the process.

    CBI said the assets to Wankhade were not proportionate to his known sources of income. The FIR copy said he was not able to justify expenses made during his foreign visit.

    Wankhade has been selling and purchasing expensive wristwatches with a private entity, said CBI.

    CBI registered a case against former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer, Sameer Wankhede and three others for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case.

    Wankhede on Saturday alleged that he was being punished for being a patriot. Wankhede’s statement came in response to the CBI raids at his residence and other premises on Friday. Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials on Friday raided his house while his wife and children were present in his house.

    “I am getting rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched it for more than 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found Rs 23,000 and four property papers. These assets were acquired before I joined the service,” Wankhede said on Saturday.

    Sameer Wankhede further claimed that CBI officials took the phone of his wife Kranti Redkar in their possession.

    CBI on Friday conducted searches at 29 locations across the country following the alleged corruption case against him and three others linked to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case. Wankhede had raided Cordelia Cruise and arrested Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in an alleged drug case. Aryan Khan case: Sameer Wankhede closed bribe deal for Rs 18 cr, reveals CBI FIR

    MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which booked former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case, said that the deal was closed for Rs 18 crore adding that assets to Wankhade were not proportionate to his known sources of income.

    According to the CBI FIR copy, the NCB team head by Sameer Wankhede allowed people who were actually in possession of drugs and the supplier as well to go.

    The FIR copy said Arbaaz Merchant had confessed of possession Charas to NCB but he was allowed to go.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Siddarth Shah who had allegedly supplied charas to Arbaaz Merchant was also allowed to walk free, the CBI FIR said adding that incriminating chats between the two were ignored.

    The federal agency said the accused were brought in a private vehicle. The private vehicle belonged to KP Gosavi (independent witness). This was done to show the accused that Gosavi was an NCB employee, though he was not.

    CBI claimed that Gosavi was allowed close proximity to the accused against the rules. An effort was made to extort Rs 25 crore, but the deal was closed for Rs 18 crore. Out of this Rs 50 lakh was paid in advance.

    Other corruption charges against Sameer Wamkhade and other NCB Officials were also in the process.

    CBI said the assets to Wankhade were not proportionate to his known sources of income. The FIR copy said he was not able to justify expenses made during his foreign visit.

    Wankhade has been selling and purchasing expensive wristwatches with a private entity, said CBI.

    CBI registered a case against former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer, Sameer Wankhede and three others for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case.

    Wankhede on Saturday alleged that he was being punished for being a patriot. Wankhede’s statement came in response to the CBI raids at his residence and other premises on Friday. Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials on Friday raided his house while his wife and children were present in his house.

    “I am getting rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched it for more than 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found Rs 23,000 and four property papers. These assets were acquired before I joined the service,” Wankhede said on Saturday.

    Sameer Wankhede further claimed that CBI officials took the phone of his wife Kranti Redkar in their possession.

    CBI on Friday conducted searches at 29 locations across the country following the alleged corruption case against him and three others linked to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case. Wankhede had raided Cordelia Cruise and arrested Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in an alleged drug case. Aryan Khan case: Sameer Wankhede closed bribe deal for Rs 18 cr, reveals CBI FIR

  • Sameer Wankhede, former NCB officer who probed drugs-on-cruise case, transferred to Chennai

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: In a latest development in connection with the cruise ship raids case in which Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was placed under arrest, few NCB officials including Sameer Wankhede involved in the alleged shoddy probe have been transferred to Chennai.

    Wankhede, the former head of the Mumbai zone of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has been transferred from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to DG TS, Chennai.

    Other NCB officials who have been transferred are P. Ram Mohan and T. Rajashree.

    The SIT formed in the case might be filing a report with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to fix responsibility for conducting shoddy probe in the matter, sources in the NCB said.

    The report will fix the responsibility of the officials who were involved in the investigation due to which Aryan Khan and others were given clean chit.

    The MHA is keeping an eye on the matter.

    Earlier, NCB official Ashish Ranjan Prasad was placed under suspension. However, his suspension was later revoked, and he was transferred to CISF.

    Another NCB official who faced the music was Intelligence Official V.V. Singh who filled the arrest memo of Aryan Khan. Singh was placed under suspension which has not been revoked till now.

  • Drugs-on-cruise case: Mumbai court asks NCB to approach Pune court to examine Gosavi

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court, Mumbai on Monday disposed of the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) plea for recording statement of KP Gosavi, who is a witness in the drugs-on-cruise case and was arrested by Pune Police in a cheating case.

    The court said that Gosavi is “technically” in judicial custody of another court and the NCB should approach that court (Pune court) for it.

    Notably, a fresh case of cheating has been registered against Gosavi at Pune’s Bhosari police station.

    Three cases have already been registered against Gosavi in Pune city. Now with this fresh case in Pimpri Chinchwad, he has now four cases registered against him in the Pune district.

    Gosavi and his bodyguard Prabhakar Rohoji Sail are independent witnesses to the seizure of contraband from Aryan Khan’s friend Arbaaz Merchant.

    Sail has alleged that Gosavi took Rs 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the cruise ship.

    Gosavi came to the limelight after his selfie with Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan went viral after NCB arrested Aryan in the drug-on-cruise case of Mumbai.

    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 two Nigerian nationals, have been arrested so far in the case. (ANI)

  • Drugs-on-cruise case: Special NDPS court grants bail to another accused Mohak Jaiswal

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The Special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court on Saturday granted bail to Mohak Jaiswal, who was co-accused in the drugs-on-cruise case.

    Jaiswal was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 50,000.

    Jaiswal was arrested on October 3, with seven others including actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, in connection with a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    On October 2, an NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea.

    A total of 20 people, including two Nigerian nationals have been arrested so far in the case.

    The Bombay High Court granted bail to Aryan, Arbaaz Merchant, and Munmun Dhamecha on October 29.

  • NCP leaders’ close aide Sunil Patil masterminded drugs-on-cruise episode: BJP leader

    Bharatiya, a former general secretary of Mumbai BJP, also claimed that Kiran Gosavi, a witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the drugs-on-cruise case, is an associate of Sunil Patil.

  • Sameer Wankhede removed from Aryan Khan case probe, Delhi NCB’s SIT to take over

    By Online Desk

    The zonal director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede, who is probing the Aryan Khan drugs case, has been removed from his role as the lead investigator.

    The development comes following allegations of Rs 8 crore payoff linked to the drugs-on-cruise case and extortion of Bollywood actors. Questions are also being raised over his “extravagant” lifestyle.

    Wankhede, however, downplayed the development saying that the move was in line with his demand for a central probe into the drugs-on-cruise case. “I had also filed a petition asking that either a central agency or the NCB’s Delhi unit should take over the probe into the Aryan Khan case and the Nawab Malik case,” he told a private news channel.

    “I’ve not been removed from the investigation. It was my writ petition in court that the matter be probed by a central agency. So Aryan case & Sameer Khan case are being probed by Delhi NCB’s SIT. It’s a coordination b/w NCB teams of Delhi & Mumbai,” NCB Zonal Dir Sameer Wankhede was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. 

    Apart from the drugs-on-cruise case, the NCB director-general has decided to transfer four other high-profile cases from the agency’s Mumbai zonal unit to its central team, according to sources. A special investigation team (SIT), led by senior police officer Sanjay Singh, will take over all the five cases which were being handled by Wankhede.

    On Monday, Wankhede had visited the NCB headquarters in Delhi and met his seniors. He was seen entering the NCB head office soon after he met National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairperson Vijay Sampla.

    NCB deputy director-general (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh is conducting a departmental vigilance probe into allegations of extortion made in the drugs-on-cruise case in which Wankhede and his team had been arrested Aryan Khan and seven others on October 3 from the international cruise terminal in Mumbai.

  • ‘Rs 1 lakh personal bond, surrender passport’:  HC imposes 14 conditions for Aryan Khan’s bail

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A day after granting bail to Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, arrested in the drugs-on-cruise case, the Bombay High Court on Friday made available its operative order in which it imposed 14 bail conditions on him, paving the way for his release from jail.

    In the five-page order, the high court said that Aryan Khan and his two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with one or two sureties of the same amount.

    As per the conditions set by the high court, the trio will have to surrender their passports before the special NDPS court and shall not leave India without taking permission from the special court, and that they will have to attend the NCB office each Friday to mark their presence.

    A copy of the operative order was signed by Justice N W Sambre on Friday afternoon.

    This may help Aryan Khan’s advocates secure his release from the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai by evening.

    The single bench of Justice Sambre had on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan, 25 days after he was arrested during a drug raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    The court had said it would give its order on the conditions of bail and surety amount on Friday.

    A certified copy of the operative part of the HC order would be now taken by Aryan Khan’s lawyers to the special court, designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) along with the requisite documents and sureties.

    The special court, after verification, will issue release papers which would then be submitted to the jail for their release.

    The same conditions shall apply to Merchant and Dhamecha.

    The court said if the trio violate any of the conditions imposed then the NCB shall “straightaway apply to the special judge/court for cancellation of their bail.”

    “Each of the applicants/accused shall execute a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with one or more sureties in the like amount,” the order said.

    The court said the accused shall not personally or through anyone make any attempt to influence witnesses or tamper with the evidence.

    The high court directed the trio to surrender their passports before the special NDPS court and shall not leave India without taking permission from the special court.

    The accused should give prior intimation to the NCB before leaving Mumbai and shall provide with their itinerary.

    It added that Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha shall not indulge in any activity similar to the activities on the basis of which the present case stands registered against them for offences under the NDPS Act.

    The HC further said the trio shall not establish any contact with any of the co-accused in the case or anyone involved in similar activities.

    The trio would have to attend the NCB office each Friday between 11 am and 2 pm to mark their presence.

    The high court shall attend all dates before the trial court and also join the investigation as and when called by the NCB.

    “Once the trial begins, the applicants/accused shall not in any manner try to delay the trial,” the court said.

    While Aryan Khan and Merchant are lodged at the Arthur Road prison, Dhamecha is at the Byculla women’s prison.

    Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs and conspiracy and abetment.

    The judge will give a detailed order with reasons next week.

  • Aryan Khan to spend one more night behind bars; jail official says papers did not reach in time

    By Online Desk

    Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in a drugs case on Thursday, will not be released from jail on Friday. He will be released on Saturday morning, according to Arthur Road Jail officials.

    “We won’t give special treatment for anyone. The law is the same for all. The deadline for receiving the bail papers was 5. 30 pm. That has passed. He won’t be released today,” an official told PTI.

    The assertion by the prison official came even as there were indications from Aryan’s legal team that a “slight postponement till 7 pm” was possible.

    ALSO READ | ‘Rs 1 lakh personal bond, surrender passport’:  HC imposes 14 conditions for Aryan Khan’s bail

    “A physical copy of the release order has to be put into the bail box outside Arthur Road Jail for the release. The jail officials wait until 5.35 pm for this”, Nitin Waychal, Arthur Road Jail Superintendent, said

    Aryan Khan’s bail | A physical copy of the release order has to be put into the bail box outside Arthur Road Jail for the release. The jail officials wait until 5.35 pm for this: Nitin Waychal, Arthur Road Jail Superintendent pic.twitter.com/bV3fz9N7LD
    — ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2021
    While granting Aryan bail on Thursday in the drugs-on-cruise case, the Bombay High Court imposed 14 bail conditions on him, paving the way for his release from jail.

    In the five-page order, the high court said that Aryan Khan and and his two co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail, shall be released on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each with one or two sureties of the same amount.

    The court has accepted Juhi Chawla, a co-star of SRK in many films, as the surety in Aryan’s bail and she signed the relevant papers and executed the bail bond before the court officials, said Aryan Khan’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde.

    Maneshinde said the Bombay High Court will send the orders directly to the jail after the court formalities are completed.

    Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had reportedly left in a small motorcade along with aides and security personnel to pick up son Aryan from the jail.

    Justice NW Sambre granted bail to Aryan and two others – Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha – on Thursday evening, but the bail orders were received only on Friday, paving the way for the trio to return home.

    Soon after the bail verdict was pronounced Thursday, SRK reportedly shed tears of joy, and later met his entire legal defence team which had been fighting for Aryan’s release for the past four weeks.

    The happy-go-lucky Aryan – who left home on October 2 for a fun-filled Mumbai-Goa cruise voyage, totally oblivious of what was in store – was suddenly detained after the NCB swoop, arrested the following day, and has been in custody since then – making it a total of 28 days that he slept away from his ‘Mannat’ bedroom.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Aryan Khan case witness, wanted in 2018 cheating case, arrested in Pune

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Pune Police on Thursday arrested Kiran Gosavi, an independent witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the drugs-on-cruise case, in connection with a 2018 cheating case registered against him here, a senior official said.

    Gosavi’s selfie and videos with Aryan Khan had gone viral on social media after the NCB’s raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on October 2. Later, Pune police issued a lookout circular against him on October 14 in 2018 cheating case.

    Gosavi had been moving to various locations in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana while on the run. The accused was later produced in a Pune court which sent him to police custody for eight days.

    Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta said as Gosavi’s selfie went viral, it helped the cops to trace his locations before the arrest. “Gosavi did not surrender but was arrested by Pune crime branch in a cheating case of 2018. There are other cases against him as well. It took us 10 days to nab him. He was on run and moved from place to place in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

    Prabhakar Sail, the personal bodyguard of Gosavi, had earlier alleged that the latter took Rs 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the cruise ship. He also said that Sameer Wankhede and his close associates had demanded Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to release his son Aryan. Gosavi, however, had denied the allegations.

    The Pune police said on Thursday that there is no demand to hand over Gosavi to the Mumbai Police or any other agencies, including the NCB. Elaborating on the matter, Gupta said, “Kiran Gosavi was using ‘Sachin Patil’ as the alias to stay in hotels at various places. He used to tell people that he runs an NGO or a businessman into export and imports, etc,” he added.

    Before his arrest, Gosavi had shared his video message saying: “Prabhakar Sail is lying. All I want to request is that his CDR report be released. If my CDR report or chats can be released, CDR reports and chats of Sail and his brother should also be released. Only then everything will be clear.”

    Gosavi further said, “At least one minister or a leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra must stand with me”, adding that the politician(s) could “at least request the Mumbai Police to make public what I am demanding” (the CDR and chats of Prabhakar Sail).