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Tag: Sameer Wankhede

  • HC asks CBI not to take ‘coercive action’ against Sameer Wankhede in bribery case till Monday 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the CBI not to take any “coercive action” such as arrest till May 22 against former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede, accused of demanding Rs 25 crore bribe from superstar Shah Rukh Khan for not implicating his son Aryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise `drug bust’ case.

    Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service official who was posted with the Narcotics Control Bureau here in 2021, has moved the court with a petition seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation against him for alleged extortion and bribery.

    A vacation bench of the court passed the order after recording Wankhede’s undertaking that he will remain present at the CBI’s office in Bandra Kurla Complex here at 11 am on Saturday.

    The CBI shall not take any “coercive action” against Wankhede till May 22, the HC said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Punished for being patriot’, says Sameer Wankhede on CBI raids in Rs 25 crore bribery case

    The central agency registered the FIR against Wankhede and four others recently for alleged criminal conspiracy and threat of extortion besides offences related to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the NCB’s complaint.

    Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, following alleged drug seizure on board the Cordelia cruise ship here.

    He was granted bail by the high court after three weeks as the anti-drugs agency failed to substantiate its charges against him.

    The CBI alleged that the NCB Mumbai Zone had received information in October 2021 regarding the consumption and possession of narcotic substances by various individuals on the cruise ship, and some NCB officers conspired to get bribes from the accused in return for letting them off.

    The CBI had summoned Wankhede for questioning in Mumbai on Thursday, but he did not appear.

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the CBI not to take any “coercive action” such as arrest till May 22 against former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede, accused of demanding Rs 25 crore bribe from superstar Shah Rukh Khan for not implicating his son Aryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise `drug bust’ case.

    Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service official who was posted with the Narcotics Control Bureau here in 2021, has moved the court with a petition seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation against him for alleged extortion and bribery.

    A vacation bench of the court passed the order after recording Wankhede’s undertaking that he will remain present at the CBI’s office in Bandra Kurla Complex here at 11 am on Saturday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The CBI shall not take any “coercive action” against Wankhede till May 22, the HC said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Punished for being patriot’, says Sameer Wankhede on CBI raids in Rs 25 crore bribery case

    The central agency registered the FIR against Wankhede and four others recently for alleged criminal conspiracy and threat of extortion besides offences related to bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the NCB’s complaint.

    Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, following alleged drug seizure on board the Cordelia cruise ship here.

    He was granted bail by the high court after three weeks as the anti-drugs agency failed to substantiate its charges against him.

    The CBI alleged that the NCB Mumbai Zone had received information in October 2021 regarding the consumption and possession of narcotic substances by various individuals on the cruise ship, and some NCB officers conspired to get bribes from the accused in return for letting them off.

    The CBI had summoned Wankhede for questioning in Mumbai on Thursday, but he did not appear.

  • 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

  • ‘Punished for being patriot’, says Sameer Wankhede on CBI raids in Rs 25 crore bribery case

    By Agencies

    MUMBAI: Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer, Sameer Wankhede, who is accused of allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case, on Saturday alleged that he was being punished for being a patriot.

    Wankhede’s statement came in response to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids raiding his residence and other premises on Friday.

    Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials yesterday 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,” said Wankhede, as quoted by ANI.

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

    On May 12, the CBI registered a case against Sameer Wankhede and three others in connection with a corruption case related to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case.

    According to reports, the CBI had received information that Sameer Wankhede and his accomplice allegedly collected Rs 50 lakhs as advance to not frame Aryan Khan in the drug case.

    The CBI on May 12 had also conducted searches at 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Guwahati and Chennai after filing the FIR against the 2008-batch IRS officer Wankhede and four others — then NCB Superintendent Vishwa Vijay Singh, Intelligence Officer Ashish Ranjan and two private persons K P Gosavi and Sanvile D’Souza — in the case.

    The official statement reads thus, “It has been alleged that the said officials of Narcotics Control Bureau of Mumbai Zone, in order to obtain undue advantage from the persons/ others in the Case No. 94/2021 of Mumbai Zone, earlier registered & investigated under the supervision of then Zonal Director of Mumbai Zone of NCB, had entered into criminal conspiracy with others and had allegedly obtained undue advantage in the form of bribes from the alleged accused of Case No. 94/2021 of NCB Mumbai Zone.”

    The probe agency alleged the NCB, Mumbai Zone had received information in October, 2021 related to the consumption and possession of narcotics substances by various individuals on a private cruise ship.

    “It has also been alleged that the said persons entered into conspiracy in order to extort an amount of Rs 25 crore (approx) from family members of the alleged accused of the case No.94/2021 of NCB, Mumbai, by threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances as per the alleged directions of then zonal director (Wankhede) being the supervisory officer,” a CBI spokesperson told PTI.

    Wankhede had raided Cordelia Cruise and arrested Aryan Khan in an alleged drug case. 

    Aryan Khan, who was formally arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28, 2021 after spending 25 days in jail.

    The NCB on May 27, 2022 also filed a 6,000-page charge sheet against 14 accused, giving a clean chit to Aryan Khan.

    NCB officials said Aryan Khan and five others were not named in the agency’s charge sheet due to “lack of sufficient evidence”.

    Wankhede, who headed the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Unit in Mumbai at the time of Aryan Khan’s arrest, was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai in May last year.

    The much-hyped case took a twist when an ‘independent witness’ had claimed in 2021 that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and other persons, including a witness Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan.

    Prabhakar Sail, the ‘independent witness’, now deceased, had told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling D’Souza over the phone about the demand of Rs 25 crore after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office after the October 2 raid.

    He also claimed NCB officials had asked him to sign nine to ten blank papers.

    However, a senior NCB official had denied the allegations, terming them as “completely false and malicious”.

    (With PTI, ANI inputs)

    MUMBAI: Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer, Sameer Wankhede, who is accused of allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore as a bribe for not framing Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in the drugs-on-cruise case, on Saturday alleged that he was being punished for being a patriot.

    Wankhede’s statement came in response to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids raiding his residence and other premises on Friday.

    Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials yesterday 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,” said Wankhede, as quoted by ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

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

    On May 12, the CBI registered a case against Sameer Wankhede and three others in connection with a corruption case related to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case.

    According to reports, the CBI had received information that Sameer Wankhede and his accomplice allegedly collected Rs 50 lakhs as advance to not frame Aryan Khan in the drug case.

    The CBI on May 12 had also conducted searches at 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Guwahati and Chennai after filing the FIR against the 2008-batch IRS officer Wankhede and four others — then NCB Superintendent Vishwa Vijay Singh, Intelligence Officer Ashish Ranjan and two private persons K P Gosavi and Sanvile D’Souza — in the case.

    The official statement reads thus, “It has been alleged that the said officials of Narcotics Control Bureau of Mumbai Zone, in order to obtain undue advantage from the persons/ others in the Case No. 94/2021 of Mumbai Zone, earlier registered & investigated under the supervision of then Zonal Director of Mumbai Zone of NCB, had entered into criminal conspiracy with others and had allegedly obtained undue advantage in the form of bribes from the alleged accused of Case No. 94/2021 of NCB Mumbai Zone.”

    The probe agency alleged the NCB, Mumbai Zone had received information in October, 2021 related to the consumption and possession of narcotics substances by various individuals on a private cruise ship.

    “It has also been alleged that the said persons entered into conspiracy in order to extort an amount of Rs 25 crore (approx) from family members of the alleged accused of the case No.94/2021 of NCB, Mumbai, by threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of narcotics substances as per the alleged directions of then zonal director (Wankhede) being the supervisory officer,” a CBI spokesperson told PTI.

    Wankhede had raided Cordelia Cruise and arrested Aryan Khan in an alleged drug case. 

    Aryan Khan, who was formally arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28, 2021 after spending 25 days in jail.

    The NCB on May 27, 2022 also filed a 6,000-page charge sheet against 14 accused, giving a clean chit to Aryan Khan.

    NCB officials said Aryan Khan and five others were not named in the agency’s charge sheet due to “lack of sufficient evidence”.

    Wankhede, who headed the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Unit in Mumbai at the time of Aryan Khan’s arrest, was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai in May last year.

    The much-hyped case took a twist when an ‘independent witness’ had claimed in 2021 that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and other persons, including a witness Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan.

    Prabhakar Sail, the ‘independent witness’, now deceased, had told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling D’Souza over the phone about the demand of Rs 25 crore after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office after the October 2 raid.

    He also claimed NCB officials had asked him to sign nine to ten blank papers.

    However, a senior NCB official had denied the allegations, terming them as “completely false and malicious”.

    (With PTI, ANI inputs)

  • 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, 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.

  • Will NCB now act against Sameer Wankhede, asks jailed Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik on Friday asked if the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will take action against IRS official Sameer Wankhede and “his private army” now that it has given a clean chit to Aryan Khan in an alleged drug seizure case.

    While Malik is in prison in an alleged money laundering case, his comment was published through the Twitter account ‘Office of Nawab Malik’.

    “Now that Aryan Khan and 5 others get a clean chit. Will NCB take action against Sameer Wankhede his team and the private army? Or will it shield the culprits? ” said the tweet, accompanied by hashtags `Farziwada exposed’ and ‘Truth prevails’.

    Malik, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, was the first to question the raid conducted by Wankhede, then zonal director of the NCB in Mumbai, on a cruise ship last October during which Aryan and others were arrested.

    The minister had launched a veritable campaign against Wankhede, accusing him of implicating Aryan in a false case to extort money from his father, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

    Malik also questioned the genuineness of the scheduled caste certificate of Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service official.

  • Forgery case: Mumbai NCB ex-chief Sameer Wankhede appears before Thane police

    By PTI

    THANE: Sameer Wankhede, the former Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, appeared before the Thane police on Wednesday in connection with a forgery case registered against him, an official said.

    The police here in Maharashtra had registered an FIR against Wankhede for alleged forgery and wilful misrepresentation while procuring a liquor license in 1997 for his restaurant and bar in Navi Mumbai.

    The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Thane police not to take any coercive action against Wankhede till February 28 in connection with the FIR.

    The court had also said that he shall appear before the city police pursuant to the summons issued to him and extend his full cooperation with the investigation.

    On Wednesday, Wankhede along with his lawyer reached the Kopri police station in Thane at around 11.30 am to record his statement, the official said.

    Wankhede had on Monday moved the high court seeking for the FIR to be quashed and interim protection from any coercive action.

    The FIR was lodged against Wankhede by the state Excise Department at Kopri police station under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 181 (false statement to a public servant), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating).

    As per the complaint, documents submitted to the Excise Department in 1997 for procuring the liquor license were forged.

    Wankhede was a minor (17 years old) when the liquor license was procured in his name, the complaint stated.

  • NCB official Sameer Wankhede’s sister files criminal complaint against NCP’s Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Yasmeen Wankhede, sister of Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Sameer Wankhede, on Saturday filed a criminal defamation and stalking complaint against Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik accusing him of making “baseless and defamatory” allegations against her.

    The criminal complaint filed before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate court has sought action against Malik under IPC sections 354D (stalking), 499 (defamation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

    In her complaint, Yasmeen Wankhede has claimed she has recently come across tweets and televised interviews wherein Malik has made defamatory and scandalous unfounded allegations against her knowing fully well the said allegations were “absolutely untrue”.

    Yasmeen’s complaint further said her brother Sameer Wankhede is actively involved in busting drug rackets. Out of personal “grudge and vengeance” held against the complainant’s brother, the accused as a counter measure started making false, defamatory and baseless allegations against the complainant and her family.

  • Maharashtra excise dept issues notice to NCB official Sameer Wankhede over eatery licence, age details

    By PTI

    THANE: The Thane unit of the Maharashtra Excise department has issued a notice to Narcotics Control Bureau Mumbai zonal chief Sameer Wankhede in connection with a eatery owned by him, an official said on Tuesday.

    The routine notice was issued to Wankhede on December 10 after documents available with the department did not include proof of age at the time when he got a licence for the eatery in Vashi in Navi Mumbai in 1997, State Excise Superintendent (Thane) Nilesh Sangde said.

    “The notice was issued under section 54(1)(k) of Mumbai Prohibition Act. Wankhede has been given seven days time to submit a written reply to the notice. After the reply is received from him, it will be placed before the collector for an appropriate decision,” Sangde said.

    Wankhede refused to comment on the excise department action.

    Earlier, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had alleged that Wankhede got the licence for the eatery in 1997, when he was around 17 years of age, which made him a minor and, therefore, ineligible to obtain this document.