CBI Assures Bombay HC Of Completing Probe Against Sameer Wankhede In Cordelia Cruise Bribery Case Within 3 Months

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) assured the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it would complete its probe against former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede in the Cordelia cruise bribery case within three months.

The assurance came during the hearing of Wankhede’s petition seeking to quash the FIR registered against him by the CBI for allegedly demanding a Rs 25-crore bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan in exchange for leniency towards his son Aryan Khan, who was arrested in the 2021 cruise ship drug case.

A bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Rajesh Patil questioned the CBI over the repeated delays in the probe. When the CBI’s counsel initially sought time to get instructions, the court refused and sought a concrete timeline. The agency then committed to concluding the investigation within three months.

Wankhede’s advocate argued that the delay had already stretched nearly two years and was adversely affecting Wankhede’s career, including withholding of his promotion. He pointed out that the CBI had been repeatedly citing the unavailability of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as a reason for adjournments.

The court admitted Wankhede’s petition and extended the interim protection against coercive action granted earlier. However, it allowed the CBI to file a chargesheet during this time, subject to court approval.

Wankhede was booked in May 2023 under IPC sections for criminal conspiracy and extortion, as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He has denied all charges, calling the case politically motivated, and submitted text messages with Shah Rukh Khan as evidence of cordial communication without any hint of coercion or financial demand.