Cruise drug bust: NCB retaliates to Nawab Malik's claims, says allegations made with malafide intents

Deputy Director General of the NCB, Gyaneshwar Singh (Left), NCB chief Samir Wankhede (Right). Pic/Faizan Khan

To counter Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) allegations pertaining to a possible collusion between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case, the anti-drug agency called a press conference, on Wednesday, shortly after NCP's press meet.

Deputy Director General of the NCB, Gyaneshwar Singh, said allegations levelled against the organisation are baseless and made with malafide intent. Indicating to the drugs case registered against Nawab Malik's son-in-law earlier this year, he added the allegations may also have been made by persons previously affected by legal action initiated by NCB.

Nawab Malik in his press conference had identified two persons namely Manish Bhanushali and K P Gosavi who he claimed were connected with the BJP and were seen escorting or arresting the suspects of the cruise drug bust case.

Also Read: Fake case for publicity: Nawab Malik alleges BJP-NCB complicity in cruise drug bust case

Replying to this claim, the DDG said, both Bhanushali and Gosavi are independent witnesses.

Later, the official left the conference without taking any questions. "Anyone with reservations can approach the court, we will respond there," he said.

Earlier in the day, NCP chief spokesperson levelled serious allegations against the anti-narcotics agency. He said that Aryan Khan's arrest and the cruise drug raid was false and stage-managed by the NCB. He also asked the NCB to clarify if it is being used as a tool to defame some person through drugs cases.