ED Files Case Against Sameer Wankhede Over Bribery Charges (image-twitter/swankhede_IRS)

On Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) based on a CBI FIR in an alleged 25 crore bribe demand from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan to clear his son Aryan Khan”s name in the drugs-on-cruise case.

Former officials from NCB have also been summoned for questioning. The case has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The CBI has booked Wankhede and others for alleged criminal conspiracy (120-B IPC), and threat to extortion (388 IPC).

The NCB has also criticized Wankhede”s conduct, especially his secret chats with Shah Rukh Khan. As part of the CBI”s ongoing investigations, these chats have also come under scrutiny.

However, Wankhede denies all charges against him, claiming the allegations as a vendetta against him by NCB officials. He had moved the Bombay High Court seeking protection to ensure no coercive action is taken against him. While the court had granted Wankhede interim protection in the CBI case in May 2023, he has to respond to the allegations by the ED regarding money laundering and amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.

Aryan Khan was arrested in the alleged drug bust case on the Cordelia cruise ship on 2 October, 2021. Contradicting Wankhede”s initial allegations, investigations conducted by an NCB special investigation team exonerated Aryan Khan of any involvement.

In 2021, an “independent witness” claimed that an NCB official and others had demanded 25 crores to clear Aryan Khan”s name.

An internal vigilance probe, conducted by the NCB against Wankhede and his team, underscored procedural lapses such as improper documentation and recording of statements by Wankhede”s team. The case against Wankhede has been registered based on the contents of the probe the NCB shared with the CBI.

Aryan Khan was given a clean chit in 27 May, 2022.