Fake case, political puppet, blackmailing Shah Rukh Khan: Shocking allegation against NCB's Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede

The drug case involving Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan, took a shocking turn when allegations of extortion and blackmail were levied against Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede. Although the allegations were categorically denied, with the officer even taking the legal route, it is just another page into the long list of allegations levied against Wankhede. Take a look...

Also See: Aryan Khan case live updates

After news broke that Shah Rukh Khan‘s son, Aryan was taken into custody despite the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) not finding drugs in his possession, fans took to social media to allege that the star kid has become the latest target of the central agency. With more details of the case spilling on to the public domain, even Bollywood celebs joined the chorus and alleged that the NCB Zonal Director, Sameer Wankhede could just be targeting the Khan family.

Reacting to the allegations, Wankhede, in a statement to ETimes, said, "We are not targeting anyone at all. We have nothing against him".

NCP leader Nawab Malik claimed that "telephonic conversations happened between Sameer Wankhede and BJP leaders in Mumbai and Delhi". This, he claimed, happened after the alleged raid that saw the NCB detain 11 persons. However, hours later, three people, including the brother-in-law of BJP leader Mohit Bharatiya were released.

Nawab Malik also alleged that the NCB's raid on the cruise was "fake, planned and conspired to defame the film industry and the Maharashtra government".

In a press conference, he also alleged that the central agency, headed by Wankhede, was being 'selective' in their arrests. In a statement, he said, "Selective people have been arrested...The matter is serious. CCTV footage should be taken and a detailed inquiry should be conducted".

NCP President Sharad Pawar also claimed he has heard 'stories' about the Narcotics Control Bureau's Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede. Revealing that he tried to get some information on the IRS officer who was earlier posted at Mumbai airport, he added fuel to speculations when he said, "I have heard several stories... But I don't have the complete details, so I won't speak about it more now."

Sharad Pawar also raised an alarm about how the NCB had taken a person, who was absconding from Pune police, as its 'independent witness' in the October 2 raids onboard the cruise ship that led to Aryan being taken into custody. The revelation reportedly sparked off a huge political row, questioning the NCB's motive.

A week after claiming the drugs bust was a 'false case', NCP leader Nawab Malik claimed that Sameer Wankhede was specifically brought into the NCB by the central government after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Malik alleged that Rajput's girlfriendRhea Chakraborty was falsely implicated in the case that saw the NCB working with the ED and CBI. "After Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, a special officer was brought in to the NCB. The suicide case was handed over the CBI, but the mystery over his suicide or murder remains unresolved. But, after that, the NCB started playing games with the film industry," Malik said in a statement to the press.

While claiming that the NCB was targetting celebrities merely on the basis of WhatsApp chats, Nawab Malik alleged that attempts were made to extort money and implicate celebrities in false cases. He said, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire film industry was in the Maldives. What were the officer (Sameer Wankhede) and his family doing in Maldives and Dubai? This has to be clarified by Sameer Wankhede. We are very clear. All this vasooli (extortion) took place in Maldives and Dubai and I will release those photos," Malik said.

Prabhakar Sail, an aide of KP Gosavi alleged that the central agency made him sign as many as 10 blank papers. Gosavi, who is absconding, is one of the independent witnesses in the case. In a notarised affidavit, Sail said he witnessed the events of the cruise raid. He also went on record to state that he feared a threat to his life from Sameer Wankhede.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged that there was a possibility that Aryan Khan's superstar father, Shah Rukh Khan was being blackmailed. In his tweet, he wrote, "Witness in #AryanKhan case made to sign on blank paper by NCB is shocking. Also, there r reports that thr ws demnd of huge money (sic)."

Following the allegation, Prabhakar Sail, an aide of KP Gosaviand the independent witness in the cruise drugs case, claimed that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official to let off Aryan Khan in the case. He claimed that he overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D'Souza, "You put a bomb of Rs 25 crore, let's settle for Rs 18 crore." Of the said amount, it was alleged that Rs 8 crore was to be paid to Wankhede.