Powerful Evidence: Sameer Wankhede’s Enourmous Battle Against Bribery Allegations : 2023

During a recent hearing at the Bombay High Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) revealed that Sameer Wankhede, the former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), is presenting the purported messages shared with renowned film superstar Shah Rukh Khan as evidence to demonstrate his “certificate of integrity.”

Wankhede, who stands accused of allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 25 crore from the actor in exchange for not implicating his son Aryan in the Cordelia cruise ‘drug bust’ case, is relying on these exchanges to assert his trustworthiness and refute the allegations against him.

The vacation bench comprising of Justices Abhay Ahuja and MM Sathaye, in a recent development, has decided to further extend the interim protection granted to Wankhede until June 8.

This decision was made on Monday. Notably, the court had previously instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation to refrain from taking any coercive actions against Wankhede until May 22. With the vacation bench’s recent ruling, the interim protection for Wankhede remains in effect until the new extended date of June 8.

In his petition, Wankhede cites the messages exchanged with Khan and asserts that the renowned film superstar expressed no grievances towards him. Furthermore, Khan humbly requested Wankhede to show kindness and compassion towards his son, Aryan Khan.

In a statement, Wankhede emphatically asserted that the actor had unequivocally commended his unwavering integrity while also sharing his profound distress regarding the unwarranted entanglement of politics in the said issue.

In his plea, Wankhede referred to the chats and asserted that the content of Khan’s messages would have been entirely different had he, Wankhede himself, sought monetary favors in exchange for releasing Aryan Khan. This highlights the contrasting nature of the conversations and emphasizes Wankhede’s belief that his integrity remains intact throughout the investigation.

During the recent court hearing on Monday, advocate Kuldeep Patil, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), presented a significant argument. Patil emphasized that the requests mentioned in the messages exchanged between Shah Rukh Khan and Wankhede were made by a concerned father, Shah Rukh Khan himself.

The messages were rooted in the genuine concern of a father whose young son, Aryan Khan, was under the custody of Wankhede. This revelation underscores the deeply personal nature of the situation and sheds light on the motivations behind Khan’s requests.

During the court proceedings, the CBI advocate, Patil, brought forth an argument regarding the messages from Khan that Wankede was attempting to present as a form of “certificate of integrity.” Patil emphasized that Wankede’s intentions were to demonstrate the credibility of these messages.

Expressing dissent towards the extension of interim protection granted to Wankhede, advocate Patil voiced concerns over potential hindrances to the arrest or any necessary actions the CBI may intend to pursue. Emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation, Patil argued that the order for interim protection should not remain indefinite.

Patil requested for an extension to submit the CBI’s reply in response to Wankhede’s petition. In defense of Wankhede, Advocate Abad Ponda emphasized the gravity of the case being investigated by the officer and his efforts to purge the system. Ponda specifically alluded to the October 2021 incident involving the Cordelia cruise and the subsequent ‘drug bust,’ which led to the arrest of Aryan Khan.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed by Ponda that NCB Deputy Director Gyaneshwar Singh had been duly informed about each and every stage of the investigation. Ponda emphasized that the core foundation of the CBI’s First Information Report (FIR) against Wankhede was fundamentally flawed, as it failed to adhere to the legal provisions prescribed by the law.

According to Ponda, the case was deemed “illegal and bad in law,” with the intention of unjustly targeting an “honest officer who courageously opposed those in positions of power and influence.”

After carefully considering the arguments presented by both parties, the court decided to grant an extension of interim protection to Wankhede. However, this extension is subject to a crucial condition that he must refrain from publishing any material concerning the case or investigation through Whatsapp or any other means.

Additionally, the court also prohibited Wankhede from making press statements or engaging in any activities that could potentially tamper with the evidence. In order to solidify this commitment, the court requested Wankhede to provide a formal undertaking, acknowledging and abiding by these conditions.

Wankhede has been duly instructed to comply with the investigation agency’s summons and present himself before the concerned officer whenever called upon. Furthermore, the High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit its response before June 3. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on June 8.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mr. Wankhede on charges of allegedly soliciting a bribe amounting to Rs 25 crore. It is reported that this alleged bribe was in exchange for not implicating Aryan Khan, the son of a prominent Bollywood star, in the high-profile drugs-on-cruise case. The CBI’s action comes as a significant development in the ongoing investigation and highlights the seriousness of the allegations against Mr. Wankhede.

Following a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated a legal action against Wankhede and four additional individuals. The accusations leveled against them include alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy and extortion, along with charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for purported bribery.

The CBI’s decision to register this case signifies the seriousness with which they are treating these allegations, emphasizing their commitment to upholding the rule of law and combating corruption.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Mumbai Zone of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was alerted in October 2021 regarding the usage and possession of illicit drugs by several individuals aboard the privately owned cruise vessel named Cordelia.

In response to this information, certain NCB officers are said to have engaged in a conspiracy, exploiting the situation for personal gain by accepting bribes from the individuals accused in the case.

On October 3, 2021, Aryan Khan faced the unfortunate event of being arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) following a raid conducted on a cruise ship. However, after enduring three weeks in custody, Aryan Khan was ultimately granted bail by the Bombay High Court. The court’s decision came as a result of the NCB’s inability to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the charges levied against him.

Published By Naveenika Chauhan