Bombay HC To Hear Sameer Wankhede’s Plea For Dismissal Of CBI’s Extortion And Bribery Case Against Him

The former Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Sameer Wankhede, has filed a petition with the Bombay High Court, asking for the dismissal of the CBI’s extortion and corruption case brought against him.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Wankhede and the other suspects allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 25 crore from actor Shah Rukh Khan in exchange for him not accusing his son Aryan Khan after drugs were allegedly found aboard a cruise ship.

Last month, Wankhede filed a petition with the HC asking for the case to be dismissed and for temporary protection from any coercive measures.

Wankhede had been given temporary protection from arrest at that time until June 8 by a vacation bench of the then-HC, who also ordered him to assist the inquiry.

In its affidavit submitted last week, the CBI requested that the protection be revoked because it claimed to have a solid case against Wankhede.

On Thursday, the appeal of Wankhede will be heard by a division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and S G Dige.

According to the Indian Criminal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing to bribery, Wankhede and the other suspects in the case have been charged with extortion threats and criminal conspiracy.

In October 2021, Aryan Khan and a number of other people were detained on suspicion of narcotics possession, use, and trafficking.

After three weeks in jail, Aryan Khan was later granted bail by the high court.

The NCB then submitted its chargesheet, but omitted Aryan from the list of defendants due to a lack of supporting evidence.

In order to conduct an investigation into the matter and against its own officers, the anti-drugs agency then established a special enquiry team.

Also read: Wrestler Not ‘Minor’, Girl Changes Statement In Court Against WFI Chief