The CBI has sought the Bombay High Court to recall its earlier order granting interim protection from arrest to NCB’s former Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, saying it has a prima facie case against him on expenses of extortion and bribery. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the Bombay High Court to recall its earlier order granting interim protection from arrest to NCB’s former Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, saying it has a prima facie case against him on expenses of extortion and bribery in reference to the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan following alleged seizure of medicine from a cruise ship.
The CBI final month filed an FIR against Mr. Wankhede and 4 others for allegedly demanding ₹25 crore bribe in return for not framing Aryan Khan within the medicine case.
Mr. Wankhede had moved the High Court searching for to quash the FIR and acquire interim protection from any coercive motion.
A Vacation Bench of the HC final month granted interim relief to Mr. Wankhede and directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
The CBI on June 2 filed its affidavit in response to Mr. Wankhede’s petition and sought that the interim protection order be recalled and the plea be dismissed.
“The CBI has a prima facie case and grant of any interim relief would adversely affect the ongoing investigation. Hence, it is respectfully prayed that the interim relief granted to the petitioner [Mr. Wankhede] from arrest may please be recalled,” the company mentioned.
The CBI in its affidavit mentioned it registered the FIR against Mr. Wankhede based mostly on a written criticism issued to it by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on May 11, 2023.
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“The written complaint received by the CBI disclosed commission of cognisable offences, hence a regular case was registered against Sameer Wankhede,” the affidavit mentioned.
“The allegations mentioned in the FIR are very serious and sensitive in nature pertaining to acts of corruption, criminal conspiracy and extortion by threat by the accused persons named in the FIR, who were the then public servants of NCB,” it added.
The CBI mentioned the investigation within the case was at an preliminary stage and the probe was being performed in an “unbiased and professional manner”.
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The company mentioned earlier than the case was quashed, it was pertinent for the courtroom to contemplate the “gravity and seriousness” of the offence alleged against Mr. Wankhede.
The CBI mentioned, “FIRs might be quashed solely within the rarest of uncommon instances the place there isn’t any cognisable offence made out against the accused.” The High Court is likely to hear Mr. Wankhede’s plea on June 8.
Mr. Wankhede and the other accused in the case have been booked under charges of criminal conspiracy and extortion threats under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act pertaining to bribery.
Aryan Khan and a number of others had been arrested in October 2021 for alleged possession, consumption and trafficking of medicine. Later, Aryan Khan was granted bail by the High Court after spending three weeks in jail.
The NCB subsequently filed its charge sheet, however didn’t title Aryan as an accused within the case citing lack of proof.
The anti-drugs company had then arrange a particular enquiry crew to hold out an inquiry into the case and against its personal officers.