Mumbai: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede booked by CBI in corruption case

Sameer Wankhede. File Pic

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case of corruption against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede and others. The CBI on Friday also conducted searches at his premises. Wankhede previously served as the Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai and was involved in the investigations of high-profile drug case involving Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan.

Official sources said the searches are being conducted at 29 locations including in Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi and Kanpur.

Sources added, the case was registered based in Vigilence report of NCB. The case of corruption is related to the Aryan Khan case where serious misconducts were found by NCB vigilance.

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In an official statement, the CBI said, "The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against then Zonal Director (an IRS officer), NCB, Mumbai Zone Unit; then Superintendent, NCB; then Intelligence Officer of Mumbai Zonal Unit, NCB; two private persons and unknown others under relevant Sections of PC Act and IPC. The instant case was registered on complaint from Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi for conducting Enquiry/ Investigation by CBI."

The agency further said, "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 and 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. It has been further alleged that an information was received in the Mumbai Zone of NCB during October, 2021 related to consumption/ possession of Narcotics Substances by various individuals on a private Cruise Ship."

It said, It has also been alleged that the said persons entered into conspiracy in order to extort an amount of Rs. 25 crore (approx.) from the 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 being the Supervisory Officer. A token amount of Rs. 50 lakh as bribe was allegedly obtained in furtherance of this conspiracy by the said persons.

"Searches are being conducted today around at 29 locations across Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Chennai & Guwahati etc. which led to recovery of incriminating documents/ articles/ cash etc. Investigation is continuing," the CBI said further.

Also Read: CBI registers case against two NIA officials on extortion charges

Former Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal director Sameer Wankhede was transferred from Mumbai to Chennai in May last year.

The development had come just days after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had given a clean chit to Aryan.

The Central Government had directed the competent authority to take appropriate action against Wankhede for his alleged shoddy investigation into the cruise drug bust case.

In 2021, a team led by Wankhede had arrested 20 persons in the bust, including Aryan. The NCB, which filed a chargesheet at the special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court on May 27, dropped charges on six of the accused.

Aryan Khan was arrested in connection with a drug case on a Mumbai cruise. Munmun Dhamecha and Aryan's friend Arbaaz Merchant were also arrested, a day after the raid.

Aryan was granted bail by the court after remaining in custody for 26 days. Aryan Khan and several others were arrested and accused of alleged consumption and conspiracy among other charges.

Aryan Khan was placed under arrest for "involvement in consumption, sale and purchase" of contraband. Helmed by Sameer Wankhede, the NCB Mumbai team raided a cruise ship off the city coast after receiving a tip-off.