News Analysis India

Tag: Sameer Wankhede

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to write to PM Modi over NCB’s ‘harassment’ of celebrities

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concerns about what he sees as the malafide actions of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central agencies against Bollywood celebrities as he believes these will have an adverse impact on Mumbai’s and the country’s economy.

    Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik met Thackeray and home minister Dilip Walse Patil demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations of NCB’s malafide raid and extortion racket. Malik said that the chief minister also raised concerns over the the anti-drug agency’s malafide raids on Bollywood personalities on flimsy charges and the following harassment.

    ALSO READ| Mumbai Police record Prabhakar Sail’s statement over extortion allegation

    “The chief minister said that after Hollywood, Bollywood is the only major entertainment industry in the world which not only spreads our culture but generates jobs as well. The industry’s contribution is two to three per cent in they country’s GDP and if it is damaged, then not only Mumbai will suffer but the country’s economy will also,” Malik said

    The NCB has formed a five-member team to probe extortion charges against its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    A five-member NCB team including deputy DG (North) Gyaneshwar Singh will leave Delhi for Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the charges against Wankhede of extortion, planting drugs and framing Bollywood celebrities along with politicians .

    NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare alleged, “Gyaneshwar Singh is the same person, who not only defended the agency’s functioning but also protected Wankhede as well  after minsiter Nawab Malik’s big expose on the involvement of a private citizen (KP Gosavi) and BJP leader Manish Bhanushali in the cruise party raid case. So, how can we expect a fair probe against Wankhede,” Tatkare alleged.

    Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had on Sunday revealed in an affidavit and a video message that Wankhede, his middle man Sam D’Souza and Gosavi had demanded Rs 25 crore from Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan to release his son from a drug case.

    ALSO READ| NCB Mumbai director Sameer Wankhede visits Delhi headquarters

    He had also alleged that Sameer Wankhede had forcibly taken his signature as a witness on ten blank pages in the cruise raid case.

    Meanwhile, Malik, who welcomed the NCB’s probe against Wankhede, also submitted another set of  allegations against Sameer Wankhede where it was alleged that Wankhede used to plant drugs in celebrities’ houses, frame them and extort money later.

    The ‘Special 26’ charges against Wankhede was anonymously shared by the NCB officer with Malik by post. The NCP leader submitted it to the NCB asking the charges are very serious in nature and it should should be included as part of their probe against Wankhede.

    Reacting to this anonymous letter, NCB’s deputy DG (South-West) Mutha Ashok Jain said that they have received the letter and decided to take cognizance of the same.

    Malik further alleged that Wankhede was illegally intercepting phones of some people with the help of two private citizens in Mumbai and Thane and also said that Wankhede is checking the call records of the minister’s daughters. “He is intruding into a citizen’s privacy by intercepting their mobiles phone and then trapping and framing them. This is a syndicated crime that has to be probed fairly,” Malik said.

    ALSO READ| Prabhakar Sail stands by allegation of extortion attempt in Aryan Khan drugs case

    He also asked the Wankhede family that if the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede shared by him is fake then they should share his original certificate and added that a complaint will be filed in the alleged fake caste certificate case.

    “ManyDalit activists and organisations are in touch with me and soon they will be filing a complaint. Wankhede has snatched the right of an eligible SC student for becoming an IRS officer by using a false certificate,” the minister said.

    Meanwhile, senior lawyer and former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi made a strong argument in the Bombay High Court during the hearing for the bail application of Aryan Khan. He said that though Aryan neither had possession of nor did he consume any drug, he was still sent to jail for 20 days.

    Justice NW Sambre of the Bombay HC adjourned the hearing on Wednesday where the bail plea of other accused Arbaz Merchant and Munmum Dhamecha will be also heard.

  • NCB Mumbai director Wankhede visits Delhi headquarters

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Mumbai zonal director who is leading the probe in the cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is arrested, visited the agency’s headquarters here on Tuesday and spent over two hours.

    The officer entered the NCB office in the R K Puram area through a back entry gate and is understood to have met his senior officers.

    Some people holding banners in support of Wankhede and certain posters hailing him were seen outside the NCB headquarters.

    It was not confirmed if Wankhede met NCB director general (DG) S N Pradhan.

    However, sources indicated that the top brass of the federal anti-narcotics agency met on Tuesday for a review meeting of various zonal offices of the agency in the country.

    NCB deputy director general (DDG) northern region Gyaneshwar Singh, heading the departmental vigilance probe on the allegations of extortion in the drugs-on-cruise case, told reporters outside the NCB office that he “did not call anyone for my probe”.

    “When it is required, I will call him (Wankhede),” Singh, an IPS officer, said.

    He added that he was not travelling to Mumbai on Tuesday.

    Wankhede’s visit to the national capital comes in the backdrop of the NCB ordering a vigilance inquiry into the allegations made by a witness in the cruise drugs case of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including the Mumbai zonal director, and others for letting off Aryan Khan.

    The officer had told media persons outside the IGI Airport on Monday that he has not been summoned by the agency but has some work here adding he did a fair job in the drugs-on-cruise case.

    Wankhede on Sunday had written to Mumbai Police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action “being planned” against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance-related issue.

    On Monday, he failed to get any relief related to an affidavit on the sensational extortion claims made by the independent witness, Prabhakar Sail, with a special court saying it cannot pass a blanket order barring courts from taking cognisance of the document.

  • NCB Mumbai director Sameer Wankhede visits Delhi headquarters amid corruption allegations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Sameer Wankhede, the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Mumbai zonal director who is leading the probe in the cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is arrested, visited the agency’s headquarters here on Tuesday and spent over two hours.

    The officer entered the NCB office in the RK Puram area through a back entry gate and is understood to have met his senior officers. Some people holding banners in support of Wankhede and certain posters hailing him were seen outside the NCB headquarters.

    It was not confirmed if Wankhede met NCB director-general (DG) SN Pradhan. However, sources indicated that the top brass of the federal anti-narcotics agency met on Tuesday for a review meeting of various zonal offices of the agency in the country.

    NCB deputy director-general (DDG) northern region Gyaneshwar Singh, heading the departmental vigilance probe on the allegations of extortion in the drugs-on-cruise case, told reporters outside the NCB office that he “did not call anyone for my probe”. “When it is required, I will call him (Wankhede),” Singh, an IPS officer, said.

    He added that he was not travelling to Mumbai on Tuesday. Wankhede’s visit to the national capital comes in the backdrop of the NCB ordering a vigilance inquiry into the allegations made by a witness in the cruise drugs case of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including the Mumbai zonal director, and others for letting off Aryan Khan.

    The officer had told media persons outside the IGI Airport on Monday that he has not been summoned by the agency but has some work here adding he did a fair job in the drugs-on-cruise case.

    Wankhede on Sunday had written to Mumbai Police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action “being planned” against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance-related issue.

    On Monday, he failed to get any relief related to an affidavit on the sensational extortion claims made by the independent witness, Prabhakar Sail, with a special court saying it cannot pass a blanket order barring courts from taking cognisance of the document.

  • Nawab Malik vs Sameer Wankhede: Now Maharashtra minister accuses NCB official of illegally tapping phones

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday accused NCB official Sameer Wankhede of illegal phone tapping and announced that he will hand over a letter on the official’s ‘misdeeds’ to the agency head.

    “Sameer Wankhede through two persons in Mumbai and Thane is illegally intercepting the mobile phones of some people,” said Malik, who has been targeting Wankhede after his son-in-law’s arrest.

    Malik also claimed that Wankhede had sought the call detail record (CDR) of his family member from the police.

    Wankhede in his affidavit submitted to a Mumbai court on Monday claimed he was under a “lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation”.

    The official had also claimed that he was being personally targeted by a well-known political figure (Malik), and the only reason he can fathom is that the NCB had arrested “this person’s son-in-law Sameer Khan”.

    Malik said he is forwarding a letter written by “someone in NCB about the various illegal activities of Wankhede’ to the agency’s DG S N Pradhan.”

    The NCP minister said the NCB should investigate the 26 allegations in the letter claiming an ‘extortion racket’ being run within the anti-drugs agency.

    “As a responsible citizen I will be forwarding this letter to DG Narcotics requesting him to include this letter in the investigation being conducted on Sameer Wankhede,” the minister tweeted.

    Malik on Monday claimed that Sameer Wankhede is a Muslim by birth and his real name is ‘Sameer Dawood Wankhede’.

    The minister had released what he claimed the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede and alleged that the latter had forged documents.

    However, the NCB official’s father later said his name is Dnyandev and not Dawood, as claimed by Malik.

    On Tuesday, speaking to reporters here, Malik said, “I have all the authentic documents to prove that Sameer Wankhede was born into a Muslim family, but he forged his identity and sought a job under the Scheduled Caste category. As per the law, Dalits who are converted to Islam do not get the quota privilege, thus Sameer Wankhede has denied the job opportunity to a genuine person from the Schedule Caste.”

    A legal probe into the matter will be initiated soon, the minister said.

    On Sameer Wankhede’s father saying his name is not Dawood, Malik said it is true that the NCB official’s father Dnyandev Wankhede was born into a Dalit family in Washim district (earlier Akola) and he later joined state Excise department.

    “But, he married a Muslim woman here in Mumbai by converting himself to Islam and accepted the name Dawood. He has two children. However, Dnyandev Wankhede had an afterthought and he used his father’s certificate to obtain all the documents in the name of Dnyandev Wankhede so that his children would benefit,” the minister claimed.

    Malik said if he has produced fake documents, Dnyandev Wankhede should show the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede and prove his side.

    “I am challenging Dnyandev Wankhede to produce the caste certificate of his son,” he said.

    Malik further stated that after 26 January 1950, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had said although he was born as Hindu, he would not die as a Hindu.

    “The then Union government immediately issued a presidential order stating that reservation benefits in government jobs would be applicable to Dalits from Hindu religion only,” he said.

    “Subsequently, the Kabir and Sikh sects got exempted from the order. The last change was brought in by late PM V P Singh, who exempted Dalits converted to Buddhism. However, the Indian law does not offer similar quota benefits to the SC persons converted to Islam or Christianity,” the minister said.

    Thus, Dnyandev Wankhede, who “became Dawood by accepting Islam” cannot seek the quota benefits, Malik said.

    “It is the sole reason why I am calling his documents bogus,” he said.

    He alleged that Sameer Wankhede and some of his colleagues were involved into some “extortion racket”.

    “Their recent visit to Maldives was for the same reason. I believe the amount was as high as Rs 1,000 crore,” the minister claimed.

    ALSO READ | Sameer Wankhede’s father says his name is Dnyandev not Dawood, slams Nawab Malik

    Meanwhile, a Mumbai-based advocate has submitted a written complaint to Mumbai Police and Maharashtra government demanding an investigation against Wankhede and four others on charges of extortion in connection with the drugs-on-cruise case, police said on Tuesday.

    The advocate Sudha Dwivedi approached MRA Marg Police Station for registration of an FIR against Wankhede, Shah Rukh Khan’s manager Poja Dadlani and three witnesses in the drug case– Prabhakar Sail, Manish Bhanushali and Kiran Gosavi-. over allegations of “extortion by threat of accusation of an offence” in the Mumbai cruise drug case.

    “A complaint by a lawyer Sudha Dwivedi has been received but no FIR has been registered yet,” said officer Anand Dadu, MRA Marg Police Station.

    The written complaint has also been sent to Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse, Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Milind Bharambe and State Anti Corruption Bureau.

    Dwivedi’s complaint is based upon the allegation made by Prabhakar Sail, who claims to be the bodyguard of another NCB witness Kiran Gosavi, that Gosavi took Rs 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the cruise ship.

    ALSO READ | Sameer Wankhede and other officers have impeccable service record: NCB tells court

    “It is very apparent that now, based on the affidavit that, the entire investigation would be nothing but a sham and flimsy investigation which is done apparently to bring down the image of the State Government, Bollywood Film Industry and the Anti – Narcotics Cell of the State Government who has been working tirelessly by seizing ‘heroin’ and not ‘heroines’, lawyer Dwivedi’s complaint read.

    “The statement of the said Prabhakar clearly make it clear that, there was no recovery, the panchnama are false, fabricated and it was done with a clear intention for personal gains and with hand in gloves with NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit officials involved and for which proper investigation has to be done by your office, failing which, the criminal act of these people would boost their confidence and they can misuse the same to their personal gains,” complaint added.

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

    (With ANI Inputs)

  • Sameer Wankhede’s father says his name is Dnyandev not Dawood, slams Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede’s father on Monday said his name is Dnyandev and not Dawood as claimed by NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.

    Speaking to a news channel, he said his son is like Abhimanyu from the epic Mahabharat who is surrounded by enemies, but he will come out of this ‘chakravyuh’ (a military foundation to surround enemies) like Arjun.

    Hitting back at Malik, who has claimed that Sameer Wankhede is a Muslim by birth and his real name is ‘Sameer Dawood Wankhede’, the Wankhede senior said the NCP leader was playing very low-level politics.

    Malik has released what he claimed the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede and alleged that the latter had forged documents.

    Speaking to a regional news channel, the Wankhede senior said, “It is an absolute lie that my name is Dawood Wankhede. I think there is some malafide intention of Malik behind releasing that birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede and defaming us. My name is Dnyandev Wankhede since my birth and it is still the same”.

    “I completed my graduation and post-graduation and even served in a state government department. How is it possible that none of them knew my name was not Dnyandev and it was Dawood? How come Malik alone gets the suspicious document?” he questioned.

    Earlier in the day, Sameer Wankhede had denied Malik’s allegations of forging documents, including his birth certificate, saying his father’s name is Dnyandev, who was an excise official.

    “My wife died six years ago. She had once prepared an affidavit in which it is mentioned that my name is Dnyandev Wankhede. I even have a valid caste certificate with me. And not just me, even my relatives have similar documents to establish it,” the Wankhede senior claimed.

    In a statement, Sameer Wankhede had mentioned that his father Dnyandev Kachruji Wankhede retired as senior police inspector of the state Excise department, Pune, in June 2007.

    His father is a Hindu and his late mother Zaheeda was a Muslim, the official had said.

    “When my son and his first wife had a son, even on the latter’s birth certificate my son’s full name is mentioned in which my name is stated as Dnyandev Wankhede. Those people (Malik) should understand it. God knows from where Malik drew this connection,” he said.

    Sameer Wankhede had also mentioned that he had married Dr Shabana Qureshi in 2006 under the Special Marriage Act.

    Both of them divorced mutually through a civil court in 2016.

    Later, in 2017, he married Kranti Redkar.

    “It looks like Nawab Malik was hurt after his son-in-law (Sameer Khan) was put behind bars by the NCB earlier. He never uttered a word against the NCB when his son-in-law was in jail. Malik started speaking out only after he was released,” the Wankhede senior said.

    When asked about the allegations of pay-off raised by an NCB witness, he said if Sameer Wankhede wanted a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan, he would have asked the actor to deliver it at home.

    “He would not have arrested his (Shah Rukh Khan’s) son (Aryan Khan) and then demanded it.”

    An NCB team led by Sameer Wankhede earlier this month allegedly seized drugs onboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast following which Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3.

    Reacting to claims of bribery made by NCB independent witness Prabhakar Sail against Sameer Wankhede, the Wankhede senior said Sail seemed thrashed and then forced to give such a statement.

    “While talking Sail is coughing, drinking water. All these are signs of getting beaten up severely. Why was he quiet for so many days if he was made to sign some blank papers (after the alleged cruise ship raid by NCB officials)?” he asked.

    On Sunday, Sail, in a statement to the media, claimed that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an official of the NCB and other persons, including absconding witness K P Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan in the drugs case.

    Sail told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D’Souza over the phone about a demand of Rs 25 crore and “to settle at Rs 18 crore as they have to give Rs eight crore to Sameer Wankhede”.

    Sameer Wankhede had denied the allegations calling them as a bid to scuttle the probe in the drugs case.

  • Sameer Wankhede and other officers have impeccable service record: NCB tells court

    In the affidavits, the anti-drugs agency and Wankhede sought the court to pass an order saying no court should take cognizance of the affidavit prepared by the independent witness, Prabhakar Sail.

  • Cruise drug case: NCB’s Sameer Wankhede reaches Delhi, says he has come for a ‘different purpose’

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Amid allegation of payoff in the drugs case involving Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Monday reached Delhi.

    While speaking to the media here, Wankhede said, “I have not been summoned. I have come here for a different purpose. All the allegations against me are baseless.”

    ALSO READ: Did man behind Aryan Khan’s arrest Sameer Wankhede forge caste certificate to get job?

    Earlier in the day, Wankhede had in a special court said that he and his family were being targeted and are ready for a probe into allegations against him. Two affidavits have been filed in the case — one by NCB and another by Wankhede.

    Wankhede and Maharastra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik are at loggerheads over the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case in Mumbai.

    Earlier, the Maharashtra minister had put an allegation of extortion on Wankhede while challenging the NCB official that he will lose his job within a year.

    ALSO READ: Video showing absconding witness KP Gosavi recording Aryan Khan goes viral

    Malik had shared the birth certificate of Wankhede on Twitter saying “Sameer Dawood Wankhede’s fraud started from here.” Following this, Wankhede said he will fight Malik legally.

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

  • Cruise drugs case: Court refuses to pass blanket order over Wankhede plea on witness ‘extortion’ affidavit

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A special court here on Monday said it cannot pass a blanket order barring courts from taking cognizance of an affidavit of an independent witness in the drugs-on-cruise episode, in which he has levelled allegations of extortion attempt by NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede and others on actor Shah Rukh Khan, whose son Aryan is an accused in the case.

    The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Wankhede had earlier in the day filed two separate affidavits before the special court against the allegations of extortion attempt levelled against them.

    In the affidavits, the anti-drugs agency and Wankhede sought the court to pass an order saying no court should take cognizance of the affidavit prepared by the independent witness, Prabhakar Sail.

    As per the NCB and its zonal director, the allegations made by Sail were only an attempt to create hurdles and scuttle the investigation into the case.

    The central agency had also sought the court to pass appropriate orders to ensure there is no tampering with the evidence or investigation in the case.

    ALSO READ: After making claim of Rs 25 crore demand, NCB witness reaches Mumbai top cop’s office

    Special Judge V V Patil, designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs Psychotropic Substances (MDPS) Act, disposed of the affidavits, saying such blanket orders cannot be passed.

    “Considering the nature of the relief claimed in the applications (affidavits), no such blanket orders can be passed. It is for the concerned court or authority to pass appropriate order at the relevant stage,” the court said.

    It added that the matter was sub-judice before the Bombay High Court which is scheduled to hear the bail pleas filed by Aryan Khan (23) and his co-accused in the drugs case Munmun Dhamecha on Tuesday.

    “Therefore, no such orders can be passed by the court as prayed. Hence, the applications are disposed of,” the court said.

    Wankhede, in his affidavit submitted to the court, refuted the allegations levelled against him, and claimed he was under a “lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation”.

    The IRS officer also claimed that he was being personally targeted by a well-known political figure, and the only reason he can fathom is that the NCB had arrested “this person’s son-in-law Sameer Khan”.

    Notably, Sameer Khan, now out on bail, is the son-in-law of NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, who has been making a series of allegations against Wankhede.

    On Sunday, Prabhakar Sail, in a statement to the media, claimed that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an official of the NCB and other persons, including absconding witness K P Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan in the case.

    ALSO WATCH |

    Sail told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D’Souza over the phone, after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office following the October 2 raid on the cruise ship, about a demand of Rs 25 crore and “to settle at Rs 18 crore as they have to give Rs eight crore to Sameer Wankhede”.

    Sail had said he would soon release evidence to support his claim.

    The NCB and Wankhede rubbished these claims in their affidavits submitted to the court on Monday.

    “After spearheading the investigation in the cruise ship case, I am being personally targeted by a well-known political figure for reasons best known to him,” Wankhede said in his affidavit.

    Wankhede’s affidavit claimed personal vendetta against him and his family members.

    “I am under a lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation,” Wankhede said, adding he was ready to face a probe to prove his innocence.

    The NCB zonal director added that the court should take cognizance of such pressures put on officers with an intent to demoralise them so that the truth does not come to light.

    “The present case (cruise drugs case) involves influential and rich persons from the higher echelons of the society in which all kinds of threats including that of arrest are made against me,” Wankhede said.

    The Narcotics Control Bureau, in its affidavit, termed the allegations levelled against Wankhede and other officers as “completely false, misleading and mischievous and an attempt to malign and tarnish the image of an independent agency like the NCB”.

    ALSO READ: NCB’s Wankhede slams minister Nawab Malik over forged birth certificate claims 

    “The allegations of extortion against NCB officials and money changing hands is a clear attempt to undermine the ongoing investigation and create pressure with a malafide and ulterior motive,” it said.

    The agency added that its officers, including Wankhede, have an impeccable service record, replete with honesty and integrity and they are working tirelessly towards making Mumbai a drug-free city.

    Special public prosecutor for the NCB, Advait Sethna, on Monday submitted the affidavits before the special court.

    Sethna told the court that Sail was threatening to release some evidence which would hamper the case and hence, appropriate orders should be passed.

    An NCB team led by Wankhede earlier this month allegedly seized drugs onboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast following which Aryan Khan and some others were arrested on October 3.

    He is currently lodged in the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai under judicial custody.

    The special NDPS court had last week refused to grant him bail following which he approached the high court.

  • Cruise drugs case: NCB, Sameer Wankhede move court against extortion allegations

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and its zonal director Sameer Wankhede approached a special court here on Monday against the allegations of extortion levelled against them in the cruise drugs seizure case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’ son Aryan Khan is an accused.

    The anti-drugs agency and Wankhede in their affidavits said this was an attempt to create hurdles and scuttle the investigation in the case.

    The NCB in its affidavit sought that there should be no tampering with the evidence or investigation, while Wankhede refuted the allegations raised against him.

    On Sunday, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, in a statement to the media, claimed that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an official of the NCB and other persons, including absconding witness K P Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan in the case.

    Prabhakar Sail, the ‘independent witness’, told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D’Souza over the phone, after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office following the October 2 raid, about a demand of Rs 25 crore and “to settle at Rs 18 crore as they have to give Rs eight crore to Sameer Wankhede”.

    ALSO READ: NCB orders vigilance inquiry into cruise drugs ‘extortion’ affidavit involving Sameer Wankhede

    Sail had said he would soon release evidence to support his claim.

    The NCB and Wankhede rubbished these claims in their affidavits submitted to the court on Monday.

    Wankhede on Sunday also wrote to Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action “being planned” against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance related issue.

    Without taking names, Wankhede, an IRS officer of the 2008 batch, had claimed in his letter to Nagrale that the threat of jail and dismissal have been issued against him on public media by highly respectable public functionaries.

    An NCB team led by Wankhede earlier this month allegedly seized drugs onboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast following which Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3.

    He is currently lodged in the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

    His bail application is likely to be heard by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.

  • Tit-for-tat? NCB to move Bombay HC seeking bail cancellation of Nawab Malik’s son-in-law

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will move Bombay High Court seeking cancellation of bail of Sameer Khan, the son-in-law of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik for violating bail conditions in a drug case.

    “We will move for bail cancellation Sameer Khan in Bombay HC for violating bail conditions,” a top NCB official told ANI.

    Notably, Nawab Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan was earlier arrested on January 13 this year by NCB in connection with a drug case. Khan was granted bail on September 27, after eight months in prison.

    Meanwhile, the NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede and Nawab Malik are at loggerheads over the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise in Mumbai.

    Malik has shared the birth certificate of Wankhede on Twitter saying “Sameer Dawood Wankhede’s fraud started from here.”

    Following this Wankhede said he will fight Malik legally.

    “I have come to know about a fresh tweet by Nawab Malik about my birth certificate. This is an ugly attempt to bring in all the things which are not connected to all this. My mother was a Muslim so does he want to bring my dead mother in all this? To verify my caste and background, anyone can go to my native place and verify my lineage from my great grandfather. But he should not spread this filth like this. I will fight all this legally and don’t want to comment much on it outside court,” Wankhede told ANI.

    Earlier, the Maharashtra minister had put an allegation of extortion on Wankhede while challenging the NCB official that he will lose his job within a year.

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

    A total of 20 people, including Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, have been arrested so far in the case.