Bombay High Court grants relief to Sameer Wankhede in Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case

The Bombay High Court has given Sameer Wankhede, the former NCB chief, some relief in the ongoing investigation of corruption in the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case. The court has asked the CBI not to take any coercive action against Wankhede in connection with the case, till May 22.

Background of the case

• An SET report from the NCB had revealed that Wankhede and other NCB officers operating under his leadership mismanaged the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case.
• Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan, was one of the accused in the case.
• Following the SET report, the CBI was put in charge of investigating several allegations of corruption and mismanagement levelled against Wankhede and his team of officers.

Wankhede’s response

• Sameer Wankhede had moved court challenging the FIR filed by the CBI and sought protection against coercive action.
• Wankhede said that the Central Administrative Tribunal had stayed the NCB vigilance report against him and as such, CBI cannot file an FIR on the basis of the vigilance report.
• In his plea filed with the Bombay HC, Wankhede also reproduced chat records with SRK that alleged the superstar pleaded him to save his son in the drugs investigation.

Wankhede’s statement

Speaking to ETimes, Sameer Wankhede said, “I have full faith in the judiciary, the Central Government and the CBI. However, there are some rotten apples in the department who have tried to defame me. But I am quite relieved today, and the truth will prevail.”

Conclusion

With the Bombay HC’s decision, Sameer Wankhede has managed to buy himself some time and relief from the ongoing investigation against him. However, the investigation is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen what the final verdict will be.