News Analysis India

Tag: Nawab Malik

  • ‘Shocked and surprised to see my name doing the rounds’: Sameer Wankhede’s sister-in-law files complaint against Nawab Malik

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede’s sister-in-law Harshada Dinanath Redkar on Tuesday filed a complaint against Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik over a tweet posted by him.

    An FIR was registered against Malik and another person Nishant Verma, at Goregaon police station under Sections 354, 354D, 503 and 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and also Section 4 of Indecent Representation of Women Act 1986.

    In a written complaint, Redkar said, “Since the last few days, I am shocked and surprised to see my name doing the rounds on the internet and other social media claiming that I have been arrested in connection with offences connected with the Immoral trafficking and/or for the alleged possession of drugs in the year 2018.”

    Redkar said that she was framed during her acting career due to a professional rivalry.

    Pointing out that the case is still pending, Redkar said that in spite of that, she was living a settled life until the accused- Nishant Varma, “who calls himself a political analyst, but apparently is a rumour monger and active on social media for whoever pays him anything” and Nawab Malik “who unfortunately is a minister in the state government and an MLA who has hardly been in the news for pertaining to his actual responsibilities”.

    “Apparently, both the aforementioned individuals and the unknown others are sponsored by the accused and their kins in the ‘M.V. Cordelia Cruise Case’ to criminally intimidate my brother-in-law into submitting to their demand of diluting the case against the accused in the Cordelia case,” she said in the statement urging the police to file an FIR.

    She further said that the accused are so ignorant and illiterate that they do not realise that simply because they want to intimidate my brother in law, they are ruining my settled life and in the act, committing the above-referred offences against me.

    “The tweets mentioned alleged activities that happened 14 years back. The accused just wants to intimidate my brother-in-law. They are ruining my settled life,” she added.

    The complaint further reads, “He (Malik) is also apparently trying to avenge the incrimination of his drug addict/drug dealer son by Sameer Wankhede or much worse, shielding the drug dealers from the further probe by him.”

    This came after a recent tweet by Nawab Malik, where the minister asked if Sameer Wankhede’s sister-in-law was involved in the drug business.

    In the tweet, Nawab Malik wrote, “Sameer Dawood Wankhede, is your sister-in-law Harshada Dinanath Redkar involved in the drug business? You must answer because her case is pending before the Pune court. Here is the proof.”

    The NCP leader also posted a snapshot of a document related to that case. (ANI)

  • ‘Friendship between Fadnavis and Wankhede helped criminals to flourish in Maharashtra’: Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday accused former state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of sweeping under the carpet a case of seized fake notes and resorting to “criminalisation of politics” by appointing people with criminal background on government boards.

    Continuing his tirade against the leader of the opposition, Malik in a press conference said there are “more bombs to be dropped” in coming days and he will spill the beans on this issue against the BJP.

    There was no immediate reaction from BJP leader Fadnavis on the fresh charges levelled by Malik.

    Malik on Tuesday said he would drop a “hydrogen bomb” and reveal Fadnavis’ alleged underworld links.

    Fadnavis had on Tuesday alleged a dubious land deal involving Malik, his family members and two convicts of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case over a decade ago, a charge refuted by the minister.

    On Wednesday, the NCP minister said while fake notes were seized in other states after demonetisation on November 8 2016, there was not a single such instance in Maharashtra.

    At that time Fadnavis was the chief minister of the state.

    Malik said on October 8, 2017, the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized fake notes worth Rs 14.56 crore from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

    “But Devendra Fadnavis helped sweep the case under the carpet. The seized amount was later shown with a value of Rs 8.8 lakhs,” Malik alleged, questioning why the case was not handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

    “Incidentally, Sameer Wankhade (the Narcotics Control Bureau officer against whom Malik has levelled several serious allegations) was the DRI’s joint director at that time,” he added.

    Malik further said one Imran Alam Sheikh was arrested in this case.

    Later, his brother Haji Arfat Sheikh was made the chairman of the state minority commission, the minister claimed.

    He alleged that Fadnavis appointed people with criminal background on several state boards.

    He said one Munna Yadav from Nagpur was made the chairman of the Maharashtra Construction Workers Welfare Board despite criminal charges like murder registered against him.

    Malik also alleged that during Fadnavis sheltered an individual whose second wife was a Bangladeshi.

    When the Malad police tried investigating the case, they was pressured.

    “Fadnavis resorted to criminalisation of politics by appointing people with criminal background on government posts,” the minister alleged.

    Malik and Fadnavis have been targeting each other with charges of underworld links.

    Both have denied any links with the underworld.

    On Tuesday, Fadnavis said Malik and his family members were part of a company which purchased land in Kurla area of Mumbai at a very low rate by making some fictitious documents.

    Malik had last week sought to link the BJP with an alleged narcotics dealer by tweeting the latter’s photograph with the former chief minister and his wife Amruta Fadnavis.

    The former CM had then said he will make revelations about Malik’s “underworld links” after Diwali and also share the “documents and proofs” of the same with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar.

  • Sameer Wankhede father’s defamation suit an attempt to hide illegalities: Nawab Malik to Bombay HC

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court the defamation suit filed against him by Dhyandev Wankhede, father of NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede, was only an attempt to cover-up the “illegalities” committed by the IRS officer and claimed none of his statements against them was false.

    Malik submitted an affidavit in the HC in response to the defamation suit filed by Dhyandev Wankhede, seeking damages to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore and also an order restraining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader from making any false or incorrect statements against the Wankhede family that would defame or harm their reputation.

    However, the minister in his affidavit said that none of the statements made by him was incorrect and that the evidence produced by him has in fact helped the government machinery take corrective steps against Sameer Wankhede, who had been handling some high-profile drugs case till recently, including the one in which Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan is an accused.

    “Sameer Wankhede is facing vigilance inquiry and the Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has transferred a total of six cases from its Mumbai unit headed by zonal director Sameer Wankhede to its unit in Delhi,” the affidavit said.

    “Thus, initiation of action against Sameer Wankhede shows the authenticity of evidence produced by the defendant (Malik),” the NCP leader said, adding being a public representative he was only trying to expose the “illegalities” committed by Sameer Wankhede, a civil servant.

    “The plaintiff (Dhyandev Wankhede), by filing the present suit, is trying to curtail the freedom of expression granted to the defendant under Article 19 of the Constitution of India, which the defendant uses for public good,” the affidavit said.

    It added that the defamation suit was nothing but an attempt to cover up the “illegalities” committed by the plaintiff Dhyandev Wankhede’s son Sameer Wankhede. Malik sought dismissal of the defamation suit and said it was not maintainable as the plaintiff was seeking reliefs not just for himself but also his family members.

    The NCP leader, who has levelled a series of allegations against Sameer Wankhede – ranging from forgery to lying about his religion – said the plaintiff cannot file a representative suit on behalf of his family members. “The family members of the plaintiff have not initiated any legal proceedings controverting the evidence produced by the defendant (Malik),” the affidavit said.

    The 62-year-old politician said he has not made any false statements and has produced documentary evidence to support his claims. “In the circumstances, it is humbly submitted that the authenticity and admissibility of the evidence produced by the defendant can be decided only at the stage of trial,” the affidavit said.

    It added that Dhyandev Wankhede has failed to produce any documentary evidence in support his claims in the suit that the statements made by Malik are incorrect. “I (Malik) have produced the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede, son of the plaintiff to show that Sameer Wankhede is a Muslim by birth and that he has secured a government job by falsely claiming to be from a Scheduled Caste,” the affidavit said.

    It added that as per the birth certificate, which has been issued by the municipal corporation, the name of Sameer Wankhede’s father is shown as Dawood Wankhede and religious identity as Muslim. “I say that if the said birth certificate issued by the municipal corporation is false then it is for the plaintiff or Sameer Wankhede to take corrective steps and pursue it with the civic authorities. If the birth certificate is false then the plaintiff should have produced the correct birth certificate,” the affidavit said.

    It further said the plaintiff has failed to show as to how the statements made by Malik were derogatory or defamatory. The minister further said several other persons, including a witness in the drugs-on-cruise case, have made allegations of attempts of extortion against Sameer Wankhede, a 2008-batch IRS officer.

    A vacation bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar is scheduled to hear the suit on Wednesday (November 10).

    The suit has sought an order declaring Malik’s statements as defamatory in nature and a permanent injunction restraining the NCP leader from publishing or making statements before the media, including his social media accounts.

    The suit has stated that the statements by Malik that Wankhede is a Muslim amounted to questioning the religious beliefs of the family by disputing they are not Hindus. It claimed that Malik’s statements caused an irreparable loss, damage, harm, prejudice to the name, character, reputation and societal image of the Wankhede family.

    The suit also sought directions to the state minister to take back all defamatory statements made by him so far and also to delete his tweets posted against the plaintiff and his family members. Sameer Wankhede had last month led a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast after which the NCB claimed to have seized drugs onboard.

    Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan and 19 others were later arrested in connection with the cruise drugs case. Some of the accused, including Aryan Khan, are currently out on bail. Malik has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs case as “fake” and levelled a string of allegations against the IRS officer, who has denied his charges.

  • Nawab Malik’s kin bought land from people with underworld links: Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged that state minister Nawab Malik and his family members entered into land deals with people associated with the underworld.

    Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis also claimed he did not have this information earlier (when he was the state’s chief minister). The BJP leader said had he found this previously, he would have exposed NCP leader Malik earlier.

    Notably, Malik earlier this month sought to link the BJP with an alleged narcotics dealer by tweeting the latter’s photograph with the former chief minister’s wife Amruta Fadnavis. Malik had also posted a similar photograph of Devendra Fadnavis with alleged the drug dealer.

    The former CM had then said he will make revelations about Malik’s “underworld links” after Diwali and also share the same with NCP president Sharad Pawar.

    ALSO READ| Nawab Malik confirmed that MVA Ministers have links with drug mafias: Mohit Kamoj

    On Tuesday, Fadnavis said, “Nawab Malik and his family members were part of a company which purchased land in Kurla (area of Mumbai) at a very low rate by making some fictitious documents. There are four such land purchase deals where I can firmly say that Malik has entered into land deals with the underworld.”

    He claimed the land was purchased from Sardar Shahwali Khan and Saleem Ishaq Patel, who were convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. “Why did you do business with the killers of Mumbaikars?” the BJP leader asked.

    “Another question arises that why did these two accused persons sell their land to Malik? They were about to get convicted under then TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act). As per that legal provision, all the properties of convicts get attached and come under government control. Did Malik help them to avoid such land on prime location from getting attached?” he asked.

    The LoP claimed Nawab Malik’s son Faraz Malik had signed the agreement documents of the Kurla land deal with Sardar Shahwali Khan and Saleem Ishaq Patel. “I did not have this information earlier (during chief ministerial tenure). Had I found it, I would have exposed him (Nawab Malik) earlier. I will submit these documents to appropriate authorities like the CBI, ED or NIA. I will also share a copy of it with NCP chief Sharad Pawar,” he said.

    Nawab Malik has since last month levelled a series of allegations against Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede after he led a raid on a cruise ship, following which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and some others were arrested.

    The NCP leader’s son-in-law Sameer Khan was also arrested by the NCB earlier this year in an alleged drugs case and was later granted bail by a court. On November 1, Devendra Fadnavis had said Malik’s attack on the NCB was an attempt to put pressure on officials of the anti-drugs agency so that the case against his son-in-law is weakened.

  • ‘Nawab Malik made false comments against us’: Sameer Wankhede’s father files complaint

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede’s father Dhyandev Wankhede has filed a police complaint here against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik for allegedly making “false and derogatory” remarks against him and his family members and their caste, an official said on Tuesday.

    The senior Wankhede approached the Oshiwara division’s assistant commissioner of police on Monday with his written complaint, demanding that an FIR be registered against the minister under the SC/ST Act, he said.

    The complainant alleged that NCP leader Malik made “false and derogatory” remarks against him and his family members as well as their caste on various media platforms.

    “We belong to ‘Mahar’ community which comes under the Scheduled Caste category,” he mentioned in the complaint.

    He demanded that an FIR be registered against the minister under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections including 503 (criminal intimidation).

    He further alleged that Malik, owing to his personal grudge, went to the extent of “stalking” his daughter Yasmeen online and illegally used her personal photographs from her social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook, etc and circulated them in print and electronic media.

    The complainant also said the minister made an unfounded allegation against his daughter and family members of being involved in extortion while they were in Maldives.

    Now, the minister is giving “direct threats” and using “illegal tactics” to hinder the investigation into the case involving his son-in-law (Sameer Khan) where he is likely to convicted, the senior Wankhede alleged.

    Malik’s son-in-law was arrested in January this year in an alleged drugs case and granted bail in September.

    The complainant claimed Malik was using all his powers against him and his family members.

    Dhyandev Wankhede also said that to prove his claims, he has the footage and articles put out by the minister on various media platforms.

    An official from the assistant commissioner of police’s confirmed that they have received Dhyandev Wankhede’s complaint, and said further investigation is underway.

    The senior Wankhede has also filed a defamation suit against Malik, seeking damages to the tune of Rs 1.

    25 crore from the minister for allegedly making defamatory comments against his son, Sameer Wankhede and family through press conferences and via social media.

    The Bombay High Court on Monday directed Malik to submit an affidavit in response to the defamation suit.

    , An NCB team led by Sameer Wankhede last month conducted a raid on a cruise ship and claimed to have seized drugs onboard.

    Later, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and 19 others were arrested in connection with the cruise drugs case.

    Malik has termed the cruise drugs case as “fake” and levelled a string of allegations against Sameer Wankhede, including that he used forged documents to secure government job.

    The NCB official has denied the allegations levelled against him.

  • High Court seeks Nawab Malik’s response on defamation suit filed by NCB officer Sameer Wankhede’s father

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday directed Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik to submit an affidavit in response to a defamation suit filed by Dhyandev Wankhede, the father of Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    A vacation bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar asked Malik to file his affidavit by Tuesday, and posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

    “You (Malik) file your reply by tomorrow. If you can reply on Twitter, you can reply here also,” Justice Jamdar said, without passing any order restraining Malik from making any further statements against the plaintiff (Dhyandev Wankhede).

    Advocate Arshad Shaikh, appearing for Dhyandev Wankhede, told the court that everyday some false and defamatory statement is being made by the defendant (Malik) which then leads to further comments on social media that are further defamatory.

    “Just this morning, the defendant has posted a tweet about Sameer Wankhede’s sister-in-law,” Shaikh argued, adding that at least till the matter is heard, the court should either direct Malik or he should himself restrain from making any further statements.

    Malik’s advocate Atul Damle, while seeking time to file an affidavit to the suit, told the court that the plaintiff cannot speak on behalf of his adult children and also cannot attribute to Malik what other persons have commented on social media.

    Dhyandev Wankhede, in his suit, has sought damages to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore from Malik for allegedly making defamatory comments against his son Sameer Wankhede and family through press conferences and via social media.

    The suit has sought an order declaring Malik’s statements as defamatory in nature and a permanent injunction restraining the NCP leader from publishing or making statements before the media, including his social media accounts.

    The suit stated that the statements by Malik that Wankhede is a Muslim amounted to questioning the religious beliefs of the family by disputing that they are not Hindus.

    It claimed that Malik’s statements caused an irreparable loss, damage, harm, prejudice to the name, character, reputation and societal image of Wankhede and his family.

    The suit also sought directions to Malik to take back all defamatory statements made by him so far and also to delete all his tweets posted against the plaintiff and his family members.

    Sameer Wankhede had last month led a raid on a cruise ship and the NCB claimed to have seized drugs onboard.

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and 19 others were later arrested in connection with the cruise drugs case.

    Malik has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs case as “fake” and levelled a string of allegations against the NCB officer.

  • Wasn’t even in service that time: Wankhede on Nawab Malik’s allegation against his sister-in-law

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Responding to the allegations made by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik over his sister-in-law Harshada Dinanath Redkar’s involvement in the drug business, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede on Monday said that he was not even in the service when the case was registered.

    “I wasn’t even in service when the case was registered in January 2008. I married Kranti Redkar in 2017, then how am I associated with the case anyway?” he said.

    Malik on Monday had asked Wankhede to disclose whether his sister-in-law Harshada Redkar is involved in the drug business or not.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader also shared “proof” that showed Harshada Dinanath Redkar listed under “Respondent and Advocate” in a 2008 case registered under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

    “Sameer Dawood Wankhede, is your sister-in-law Harshada Dinanath Redkar involved in the drug business? You must answer because her case is pending before the Pune court,” Malik tweeted.

    Meanwhile, Dnyandev Wankhede, the father of Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit seeking damages of Rs 1.25 crore against Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in the Bombay High Court on Sunday.

    A single-judge bench, Justice Madhav Jamdar will be hearing the matter today.

    Earlier, Malik had alleged that Wankhede was born a Muslim but he forged documents, including a caste certificate, to pass off as a Scheduled Caste (SC) person to get recruitment under quota after clearing the UPSC exams.

    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 and Aryan Khan, have been arrested so far in the case.

  • Nawab Malik confirmed that MVA Ministers have links with drug mafias: Mohit Kamoj

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik accused Fashion TV head, Kashiff Khan of compelling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) minister Aslam Shaikh, to attend the Cordelia Cruise ship party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mohit Kamboj reiterated that his allegations of MVA ministers having links with ‘drugs mafias’ have proven to be true.

    “I have said earlier that a Minister who has relations with drug peddlers was involved in cruise party. Today Nawab Malik confirmed that Aslam Shaikh has relations with Kashiff Khan and also that children of NCP leaders, ministers are in contact with drug peddlers,” Kamboj said while addressing a press conference here yesterday.

    “He (Nawab Malik) has accepted everything that I had said. Earlier, he had spoken of a bearded man having connections with a minister. He himself revealed that Maharashtra Minister Aslam Shaikh has links with a bearded man (Kashiff Khan). He said that this bearded man constantly asked Aslam Shaikh to come to the party. I want to ask, what relations Aslam Shaikh have with this man who Malik had termed as the biggest kingpin of drugs?” asked Kamboj during a press conference.

    Kamboj added, “The relations of MVA Ministers are disclosing slowly with those whose names are associated with drugs mafias, dugs peddlers and drugs syndicate.”

    Malik had yesterday alleged that Kashiff Khan forced Aslam Shaikh to come to the Cordelia Cruise ship party and was also planning to bring children of various ministers to the party. He further said that Mohit Kamboj is the mastermind and partner of Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede in demanding ransom.

    Speaking to media persons, Kamboj denied having relations with Sameer Wankhede. “I have never in my life met Sameer Wankhede or any other NCB officer,” he said.

    Kamboj also claimed that Malik has accepted that he has relations with Sunil Patil. “He as accepted that Sunil Patil called him,” said the BJP leader.

    “Sunil Patil and Nawab Malik are friends for the last 20 years. When Sunil Patil used to do parties in Lalit hotel, Nawab also used to go there. Today Nawab Malik has confirmed his relations with him and it’s a conspiracy set up by NCP along with Sunil Patil,” he added.

    However, Malik had yesterday denied knowing Sunil Patil, one of the accused in the drugs on cruise case.

    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 and Aryan Khan, have been arrested so far in the case.

  • Sameer Wankhede’s father files defamation suit against Nawab Malik

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Dnyandev Wankhede, the father of NCB Mumbai Zonal director Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit against Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in the Bombay High Court on Sunday.

    Maharashtra minority affairs minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik have slammed Mohit Kamboj by calling him the mastermind and partner of Sameer Wankhede in demanding ransom.

    Earlier, Malik had alleged that Wankhede was born a Muslim but he forged documents, including a caste certificate, to pass off as a Scheduled Caste (SC) person to get recruitment under quota after clearing the UPSC exams.

    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 and Aryan Khan, have been arrested so far in the case.

  • NCB’s Sameer Wankhede was part of plot to ‘kidnap’ Aryan Khan, claims Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Sunday alleged that NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede was part of a plot to “kidnap” Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

    Speaking to reporters here, Malik claimed BJP leader Mohit Bharatiya was the “mastermind” of the plot.

    He further claimed that Wankhede had met Bharatiya at a graveyard in suburban Oshiwara.

    Aryan Khan was last month arrested following a raid led by Wankhede on a cruise ship from which drugs were allegedly seized.

    Malik has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs bust case as “fake” and levelled a series allegations against Wankhede.