News Analysis India

Tag: National Commission for Scheduled Castes

  • Sameer Wankhede alleges harassment by NCB officer, moves scheduled castes panel 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has said it will probe a complaint received by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede alleging harassment by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Deputy Director General (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh, who headed a vigilance probe that found irregularities in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case.

    The commission, in a statement on Tuesday, said it will probe the alleged harassment and atrocities committed by Singh and directed that no further action be taken in the matter till the complaint is pending before the panel, which enjoys the powers of a civil court.

    The NCB had instituted the vigilance probe after several lapses were found in the inquiry into the alleged drug seizure from a cruise ship in Mumbai last October.

    Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested after a raid on the ship, but he was later given a ‘clean chit’ in the case.

    Wankhede was the NCB Mumbai zonal director when the raid was conducted on the Goa-bound ship.

    “A complaint or information has been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from Wankhede and the commission has decided to investigate or inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred to it under the Constitution,” said the statement.

    Wankhede, who in May was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai, also met the NCSC chairman and discussed his case in detail, it said.

    “There appears to be discrimination and harassment of the petitioner (who belongs to a Scheduled Caste). Therefore, the NCSC has desired that no further action in the matter be taken till the pendency of the case in the commission,” said the statement.

    The commission has asked the Central Board of Indirect Texas and Customs (CBIC) to hand over original documents submitted by the NCB’s Special Enquiry Team (SET) for examination by the panel.

    The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) is governed by the CBIC.

    The NCSC, which enjoys powers of a civil court, has asked the CBIC, a body functioning under the Union finance ministry’s Department of Revenue, to submit information sought by it in 15 days.

    When contacted by PTI, Wankhede said, “I have approached the commission, but do not want to comment further as the matter is sub-judice. Singh humiliated and mocked Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. I have faced continuous harassment and exploitation for a year.”

    ‘The NCB inquiry into the probe of the drugs-on-cruise case has flagged several irregularities but found no evidence of extortion, an official said on Tuesday.

    A special investigation team of the NCB which looked into the probe of the case submitted its vigilance report a few weeks ago.

    It flagged “suspicious behaviour” of seven to eight officers of the NCB.

    Questions were also raised about the intention of the officers involved in the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case and some people were found to have changed their statements many times, the official had said.

    There was “selective treatment” and procedural lapses during the probe, he had said.

    The report has recommended action against erring officers including those who were deputed to the NCB at the time, he said.

    MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has said it will probe a complaint received by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede alleging harassment by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Deputy Director General (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh, who headed a vigilance probe that found irregularities in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case.

    The commission, in a statement on Tuesday, said it will probe the alleged harassment and atrocities committed by Singh and directed that no further action be taken in the matter till the complaint is pending before the panel, which enjoys the powers of a civil court.

    The NCB had instituted the vigilance probe after several lapses were found in the inquiry into the alleged drug seizure from a cruise ship in Mumbai last October.

    Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested after a raid on the ship, but he was later given a ‘clean chit’ in the case.

    Wankhede was the NCB Mumbai zonal director when the raid was conducted on the Goa-bound ship.

    “A complaint or information has been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from Wankhede and the commission has decided to investigate or inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred to it under the Constitution,” said the statement.

    Wankhede, who in May was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai, also met the NCSC chairman and discussed his case in detail, it said.

    “There appears to be discrimination and harassment of the petitioner (who belongs to a Scheduled Caste). Therefore, the NCSC has desired that no further action in the matter be taken till the pendency of the case in the commission,” said the statement.

    The commission has asked the Central Board of Indirect Texas and Customs (CBIC) to hand over original documents submitted by the NCB’s Special Enquiry Team (SET) for examination by the panel.

    The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) is governed by the CBIC.

    The NCSC, which enjoys powers of a civil court, has asked the CBIC, a body functioning under the Union finance ministry’s Department of Revenue, to submit information sought by it in 15 days.

    When contacted by PTI, Wankhede said, “I have approached the commission, but do not want to comment further as the matter is sub-judice. Singh humiliated and mocked Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. I have faced continuous harassment and exploitation for a year.”

    ‘The NCB inquiry into the probe of the drugs-on-cruise case has flagged several irregularities but found no evidence of extortion, an official said on Tuesday.

    A special investigation team of the NCB which looked into the probe of the case submitted its vigilance report a few weeks ago.

    It flagged “suspicious behaviour” of seven to eight officers of the NCB.

    Questions were also raised about the intention of the officers involved in the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case and some people were found to have changed their statements many times, the official had said.

    There was “selective treatment” and procedural lapses during the probe, he had said.

    The report has recommended action against erring officers including those who were deputed to the NCB at the time, he said.

  • Sameer Wankhede visits NCB headquarters after meeting NCSC chairperson in Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Monday visited the federal anti-narcotics agency’s headquarters here and met senior officers, officials said.

    Wankhede was seen entering the head office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the national capital’s R K Puram area soon after he met National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairperson Vijay Sampla.

    “I have presented all the documents and facts as sought by the commission (NCSC)….there will be a verification of my complaint and the honourable chairperson will soon give you a response,” Wankhede told reporters after the meeting.

    Fighting allegations that he forged his caste certificate and other documents to secure a job as an IRS officer under the SC quota after clearing the UPSC examination, Wankedhe earlier presented his original caste papers to Sampla to prove he is a Dalit.

    Officials said Wankhede visited the NCB headquarters for some “official work”.

    It was not immediately known if he met NCB director general S N Pradhan or deputy director general (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh.

    He had last visited the NCB headquarters here on October 26.

    Officials had said the visit of the Mumbai NCB director was with regard to a review meeting.

    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 arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and seven others on October 3 from the international cruise terminal in Mumbai.

    At least 20 people have been arrested in this case till now.

    Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had claimed and filed an affidavit that there was an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials and others for letting off Aryan Khan from the case.

    Sail had stated that he overheard that a “bribe” of Rs 8 crore was to be paid to Wankhede out of this money.

    The Mumbai NCB chief has denied these claims.

    Sail claims to be the bodyguard of a private person and another witness in this case, K P Gosavi, who was recently arrested by the Pune police in a fraud case pending against him.

    Gosavi’s close proximity and photographs with Aryan Khan during NCB raids had raised questions.

    They are part of the agency’s departmental vigilance probe.

    Statements of Wankhede and some Mumbai zone officers have already been recorded by the five-member vigilance team headed by Singh.

  • Sameer Wankhede visits NCB headquarters after submitting caste documents to NCSC chairperson

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Monday visited the federal anti-narcotics agency’s headquarters here and met senior officers, officials said.

    Wankhede was seen entering the head office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the national capital’s R K Puram area soon after he met National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairperson Vijay Sampla.

    “I have presented all the documents and facts as sought by the commission (NCSC)….there will be a verification of my complaint and the honourable chairperson will soon give you a response,” Wankhede told reporters after the meeting.

    Fighting allegations that he forged his caste certificate and other documents to secure a job as an IRS officer under the SC quota after clearing the UPSC examination, Wankedhe earlier presented his original caste papers to Sampla to prove he is a Dalit.

    ALSO READ | Nawab Malik vs Sameer Wankhede: NCB official to meet NCSC chairperson in Delhi, submit caste documents

    Officials said Wankhede visited the NCB headquarters for some “official work”.

    It was not immediately known if he met NCB director general S N Pradhan or deputy director general (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh.

    He had last visited the NCB headquarters here on October 26.

    Officials had said the visit of the Mumbai NCB director was with regard to a review meeting.

    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 arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and seven others on October 3 from the international cruise terminal in Mumbai.

    At least 20 people have been arrested in this case till now.

    Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had claimed and filed an affidavit that there was an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials and others for letting off Aryan Khan from the case.

    Sail had stated that he overheard that a “bribe” of Rs 8 crore was to be paid to Wankhede out of this money.

    The Mumbai NCB chief has denied these claims.

    Sail claims to be the bodyguard of a private person and another witness in this case, K P Gosavi, who was recently arrested by the Pune police in a fraud case pending against him.

    Gosavi’s close proximity and photographs with Aryan Khan during NCB raids had raised questions.

    They are part of the agency’s departmental vigilance probe.

    Statements of Wankhede and some Mumbai zone officers have already been recorded by the five-member vigilance team headed by Singh.

  • Nawab Malik vs Sameer Wankhede: NCB official to meet NCSC chairperson in Delhi, submit caste documents

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Mumbai zonal head, will meet National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairperson Vijay Sampla here on Monday to present his original caste documents to prove that he is a Dalit, sources said.

    Wankhede will meet Sampla at the NCSC office here at around 12 pm, sources said.

    Wankhede is leading the probe in the cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was arrested.

    The NCB has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the allegations made by a witness in the case of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including Wankhede, and others for letting off Khan.

    Manharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has levelled a series of allegations against Wankhede.

    Among other things, he has accused the officer of forging his caste certificate and other documents to secure a job as IRS officer under the SC quota after clearing the UPSC examination.

    Malik claimed that Wankhede is a Muslim by birth, although the latter has denied it On Sunday, Arun Halder, vice chairman of the NCSC had come out in Wankhede’s support, saying the officer is doing good work and making his department proud, but a minister has launched a personal attack against him and his family members.

    Halder also visited Wankhede’s residence in Mumbai.

  • MP: Dalit sarpanch, family members assaulted; NCSC issues notice to Shivraj government

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A Dalit sarpanch and his family members were allegedly assaulted and manhandled by an upper caste secretary of the gram panchayat in Chattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) to send a notice to the state government on Monday.

    Taking strong note of the incident which took place in Dhamchi village during the flag hoisting function on Independence Day on Sunday, the NCSC, on the orders of Chairman Vijay Sampla, sought from the Madhya Pradesh government an action taken report (ATR), immediately.

    According to the information received by the NCSC, a purported video of the alleged incident has gone viral on social media and picked up by various news websites.

    In the clip, Hannu Basor can be seen getting kicked and manhandled by Sunil Tiwari who was upset as the sarpanch had hoisted the tricolour during the Independence Day function, in his absence.

    Through the news article published in the online news websites dated August 16, the NCSC got the information that the sarpanch’s wife and daughter-in-law were also beaten and attacked by the secretary when they came to his rescue, a statement said.

    Soon after the video of the sarpanch’s assault went viral, Sampla tweeted from his official Twitter handle and asked the Madhya Pradesh’s chief secretary, director general of police as well as the district collector and superintendent of police of Chattarpur to submit the ATR through post or e-mail.

    Sampla cautioned the officers that if the ATR is not received, the NCSC might exercise the powers of the civil court conferred on it under article 338 of the constitution and issue summons for their personal appearance before the commission in Delhi.

    “This is saddening that the Dalit sarpanch was attacked for hoisting the national flag during the Independence Day function,” Sampla said in a tweet in Hindi.

  • ‘Broken roof, vandalised shop evidence of post-poll atrocities on Dalits’: Panel on Trinamool’s ‘no violence’ claim

    According to a statement released by the commission, when NCSC chief Vijay Sampla reached the house of complainant Ashish Khetrapal in the village on Thursday he found it locked.

  • Kolkata diary: Bringing news from the ‘City of Joy’

    Express News Service
    Private hospitals asked to procure jabs from makers

    The state health department has informed the private hospitals in the state that they will have to procure the vaccines from the manufacturers starting from next month. At present, the state government supplies vaccines to private hospitals. This arrangement will come to an end on April 30. Private hospitals now pay Rs 150 a vial. Each vial has 10 doses.

    From May 1, the private hospitals have to shell out more. The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures Covishield, announced that private hospitals have to pay Rs 600 for each dose. Bharat Biotech, which produces Covaxin, has priced its vaccine at Rs 1,200 a dose for private hospitals and Rs 600 for government hospitals.

    Probe into IIT-Kharagpur professor over alleged casteist remark

    The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken suo-motu cognizance of alleged casteist remarks made by a professor of IIT-Kharagpur during an online class. The Commission has asked the institute to submit a report on the action taken against the professor within 15 days.

    The class on preparatory English, during which the remarks were made, was attended by a number of students from the SC community. A notice was sent to IIT Kharagpur director, VK Tewari, by the Commission’s Director of administration, Ajit Kumar Sahu.

    The notice says, “Her remarks have hurt the sentiments of many Indians, specifically the SC community.” Sources in the institute said an investigation has been launched.

    St Xavier’s College to wrap up online classes early

    In light of the Covid situation, St Xavier’s College has decided to wrap up classes on May 10, instead of May 29 as originally planned. According to a notice issued by Father Diminic Savio, the principal of the college, “The last day of class for B. Ed semester two is being brought forward to 10th May instead of 29th May.”

    The notice was issued a day after the college put off holding online semester exams given the increasing gravity of the pandemic. The students had complained that they were struggling to prepare for the exams in light of the situation.

    Kolkata’s South Point High School sets up COVID-19 helpline

    The management of Kolkata’s South Point High School has started a “COVID helpline” where parents or staff members can ask for information on the availability of hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, blood plasma donors, etc.

    The school will then post the question to the 25,000 users of the school app. According to a notice issued by the school to all parents and staff members, information could be sought on the availability of medical facilities like hospital beds, ambulances, oxygen, medicines, blood/plasma donors, nursing care services, food supply, and isolation/quarantine centers.