CBI files corruption case against Aryan Khan case officer Sameer Wankhede

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday registered a corruption case against former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede who arrested Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a drugs case two years ago.

Wankhede has been booked under Section 7, 7A, and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion by threat) of the IPC.

The case was registered against three public servants, including Sameer Wankhede, and raids are underway at over 30 locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi, Lucknow, Guwahati and Chennai.

Wankhede and others allegedly demanded Rs 25 crore bribe for not framing Aryan Khan in the drug bust.

The case was registered against Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service officer, following a preliminary inquiry by the CBI on the basis of a vigilance report. During the viligance inquiry, it was found that Sameer Wankhede amassed assets through corruption.

In October 2021, a team led by Wankhede raided Cordelia cruise at the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal and arrested Aryan Khan and others.

Initially, charges of drug possession, consumption, and trafficking were applied in the case. Aryan Khan, who had spent 22 days in jail, was given a clean chit by NCB in May 2022 due to “lack of sufficient evidence”.

A separate vigilance inquiry was conducted owing to allegations of high-handedness against the NCB team and Wankhede. Wankhede was later transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai.