Bombay High Court Grants Interim Relief to Former NCB Director in Investigation

Interim Protection Granted to Sameer Wankhede

The Bombay High Court provided interim relief on Thursday to Sameer Wankhede, the former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), shielding him from questioning in two investigations concerning alleged irregularities. This protection is effective until the final hearing of his petition.

Wankhede, an officer of the 2008 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), filed a petition in the High Court in 2024. He challenged the notices issued to him by the NCB regarding irregularities in two drug-related cases, one of which is linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. While the NCB claimed that the investigations were initiated based on two anonymous complaints, Wankhede alleged that the actions were instigated by former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.

Wankhede contended that Malik held a grudge against him for arresting Malik's son-in-law, Sameer Khan, in a drug case. The bench, comprising Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata, accepted Wankhede's petition, stating that he would not be summoned for questioning until the petition is finally heard and decided. Previously, the NCB had informed the High Court that serious allegations of irregularities against Wankhede warranted the initiation of an investigation.

Following Rajput's alleged suicide at his residence in Mumbai in June 2020, the NCB commenced an inquiry into the purported use of drugs in the film industry. Subsequently, the agency filed cases against Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and 33 others for drug possession, use, and financing. Complaints regarding irregularities in the investigation against Wankhede later surfaced.

Between November 2023 and March 2024, the NCB issued eight notices to the IRS officer, directing him to appear before Deputy Director General Sanjay Singh, who is leading the preliminary investigation. In his petition, Wankhede described the inquiry as an act of 'retaliation.' In May 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also filed a case against Wankhede for extortion and bribery.

He was accused of demanding ₹25 crores to avoid implicating Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, in a drug seizure case aboard a cruise ship. Aryan Khan was arrested on October 2, 2021, after drugs were allegedly found on the Cordelia cruise ship. The NCB later filed charges against 14 accused in this case but cleared Aryan Khan of any wrongdoing.

Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate also initiated a money laundering case against him. Wankhede approached the High Court regarding both cases and was granted interim protection from any punitive actions.