NCB's Delhi Unit to Probe Aryan Khan Drugs Case; Sought the Shift, Says Wankhede

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede outside the NCB office.

(Photo Courtesy: Viral Bhayani)

Amid reports stating that he has been removed from his position as the lead investigator in the Mumbai cruise drugs case, Sameer Wankhede told ANI, "I've not been removed from investigation. It was my writ petition in court that the matter be probed by a central agency (sic)."

"So, the Aryan (Khan) case and Sameer Khan case are being probed by Delhi NCB's SIT. It's a coordination between NCB teams of Delhi and Mumbai."

Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy DG, South-Western Region, NCB was quoted by ANI as saying:

"Total six cases of our zone will now be investigated by Delhi teams (of NCB), including Aryan Khan's case and five other cases. It was an administrative decision."

Reports also suggest that a Special Investigation Team, to be led by senior police officer Sanjay Singh, will take over the Aryan Khan case.

Wankhede has recently been mired in a slew of allegations of bribery and extortion.

According to PTI, officials have, however, stated that Wankhede will continue as the Mumbai zonal director of NCB.

'No Officer Removed': Deputy Director General, NCB Headquarters

Stating that the NCB functions arose the country as a “single integrated agency”, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General, NCB Headquarters said in a press release:

“No officer of officers have been REMOVED from their present roles and will continue to assist the Operations Branch investigation as required until any specific orders are issued to the contrary.”

He further reiterated that an SIT comprising officers from Operations Branch of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Headquarters will be taking over six cases from NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit “which have national and international ramifications. This, as per Singh, is “in order to conduct deeper investigation to find out forward and backward linkages.”

Background

Wankhede, who has been heading the investigation of the high-profile drugs case involving Aryan Khan, has been accused of extortion by a witness. Following the claims of bribery, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had also made allegations of forgery against Wankhede.

Amid allegations of forgery levelled by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik., Wankhede, on 1 November, said he provided all the facts and documents to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes during his meeting with Vijay Sampla, the director of the commission, in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.