Former Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chief Sameer Wankhede faced over five hours of questioning on Sunday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to allegations of demanding a bribe of ₹25 crore from actor Shah Rukh Khan to spare his son, Aryan Khan, in the Cordelia cruise ‘drug bust’ case. Wankhede, while refraining from responding to media queries outside the CBI office, expressed his belief in the judiciary by saying, “Satyamev Jayate” (truth only triumphs).
Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, arrived at the CBI office located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex at around 10.30 am. Prior to entering the office, he emphasized his faith in the judiciary during a brief interaction with the media.
During the questioning, Wankhede was granted a lunch break, and according to an official, he concluded his session and left the CBI office for the day at approximately 4.30 pm.
This marks the second consecutive day of interrogation for Sameer Wankhede. On Saturday, he underwent questioning by the CBI for over five hours. Following the session, Wankhede and his family members visited the Siddhivinayak temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai.
Wankhede, along with four others, including his associates, were booked by the CBI on May 11 based on a complaint filed by the NCB, which alleged criminal conspiracy, threat of extortion, and bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On Friday, the Bombay High Court provided relief to Wankhede by directing the CBI to refrain from taking any coercive actions, such as arrest, against him until May 22.
In his plea to quash the FIR, Wankhede claimed that the initial draft complaint in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case listed Aryan Khan as an accused but was later altered to exclude his name. Aryan Khan, who was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, in connection with the alleged drug seizure aboard the Cordelia cruise ship, was granted bail by the high court three weeks later due to the agency’s failure to substantiate its charges against him.
Challenging Allegations: Sameer Wankhede Faces CBI Scrutiny in ‘Satyamev Jayate’ Case”
Wankhede firmly denied the allegations leveled against him. In his petition before the high court, he presented transcriptions of phone conversations with Shah Rukh Khan during the period when Aryan was in NCB custody. The transcripts highlighted Khan’s plea for leniency towards his son and praised Wankhede for his integrity.
Please note that the above rewritten version provides the key information from the original news article while ensuring there is no plagiarism.
Sameer Wankhede Faces Extensive CBI Interrogation for Second Day in ‘Satyamev Jayate’ Case
Former Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chief Sameer Wankhede underwent a rigorous questioning session for over five hours on Sunday as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) delves into the allegations of him demanding a bribe of ₹25 crore from actor Shah Rukh Khan. The bribe was reportedly intended to prevent the implication of Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, in the Cordelia cruise ‘drug bust’ case. Wankhede refrained from addressing media inquiries but conveyed his unwavering faith in the judiciary by uttering the words “Satyamev Jayate” (truth alone triumphs).
Arriving at the CBI office in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex around 10.30 am, Sameer Wankhede expressed his confidence in the legal system to the press before proceeding inside for questioning.
During the extensive interrogation, Wankhede was granted a lunch break, according to an official source. After the session concluded, the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer left the CBI premises at approximately 4.30 pm.
This marked the second consecutive day that Sameer Wankhede faced intense scrutiny by the CBI. On Saturday, he underwent questioning for over five hours as well. Following the previous day’s session, Wankhede and his family members visited Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple in Prabhadevi.
The CBI had filed a case against Sameer Wankhede and four others, including his associates, on May 11. The charges include alleged criminal conspiracy, extortion threats, and bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint was lodged by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In a significant development on Friday, the Bombay High Court provided relief to Wankhede by instructing the CBI not to take any “coercive action” against him, such as making an arrest, until May 22.
Wankhede has also sought to have the First Information Report (FIR) quashed. He claimed before the High Court that the initial draft complaint in the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case listed Aryan Khan as an accused but later omitted his name. Aryan Khan, who was arrested by the NCB on October 3, 2021, in connection with the alleged drug seizure on the Cordelia cruise ship, was granted bail by the high court three weeks later due to the agency’s inability to substantiate its charges.
Sameer Wankhede has staunchly denied the allegations leveled against him. His petition presented phone call transcripts between himself and Shah Rukh Khan during the period when Aryan was under NCB custody. The transcripts highlight Khan’s plea for compassion toward his son and commend Wankhede for his unwavering principles.
