Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against former Mumbai NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede taking cognisance of cases filed by NCB vigilance and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged Rs 25-crore bribe demand from superstar Shah Rukh Khan's family to spare his son in a drugs case, official sources said Saturday.
Wankhede moved the Bombay High Court to quash the ED money laundering case in connection with the 2021 Cordelia cruise ship drugs case.
“Money laundering case has been registered with Sameer Wankhede and three NCB officers for questioning,” confirmed a senior ED official.
Wankhede Moves Bombay HC Seeking Protection
Wankhede approached the High Court through advocate Karan Lalit Jain seeking quashing of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by ED and has sought protection from arrest till the petition is heard.
“It is surprising that the ECIR is based on the CBI FIR which is already under question before the Bombay HC. Since the matter is subjudice, I don't intend to comment anything further and give the appropriate reply in the court at the appropriate time. I reiterate that I have full faith in the Indian judiciary,” said Sameer Wankhede.
The drug case against Aryan Khan was initiated by the Mumbai unit of NCB after a search-seizure operation was carried out on the Mumbai-Goa cruise on October 2, 2021, which led to 20 arrests including Aryan Khan.
Bribery Allegations Against Wankhede
CBI registered FIR against Wankhede alleging offences under sections 7 (bribery), 7A (undue advantage to influence public servant by illegal means) and 12 (abetment) of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code.
The High Court had granted interim protection from arrest to Wankhede last May.
