What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: A day after Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) commissioned a vigilance probe against its 2008-batch IRS and Mumbai zonal director, Sameer Wankhede, following extortion claims made by an independent witness, Prabhakar Sail, in the drugs-on-cruise probe involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Wankhede appeared before top officials at drug law enforcement agency’s headquarters in Delhi.
Hours later, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said if both actor Shah Rukh Khan and his son Aryan Khan were to join BJP, “drugs” become “sugar”.
“If tomorrow Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan say that they want to join the BJP, then the drugs will become sugar,” Patole told The New Indian.
It is not clear if Patole meant that drugs were indeed found on Aryan Khan.
Patole’s remarks may create trouble for his party, which has maintained a neutral stand on the investigation even as ally partner NCP and Shiv Sena have questioned the presence of private investigator KP Gosavi on days of raids following independent witness Prabhakar Sail’s accusations.
The local court has so far denied bail to Aryan Khan after NCB submitted his alleged Whatsapp chats, accusing him of bulk drug procurement.
The legal team of Aryan Khan has distanced from allegations of bribery, saying the question doesn’t arise as he doesn’t consume any drugs.
NCB officials, however, said that they will now probe both allegations.
“This means NCB did not cook up or fabricate or lie on any charge that drugs were indeed found among all accused. Where were these witnesses in the last 18 days? They all want the public to think probe agencies are blind and should close eyes to crime. On the contrary, the bribery allegations at least confirm the recovery, so let our agency probe both. It shows our fairness,” said a senior NCB official.
Earlier on Monday, Sail, whose claims come 18 days after the raids, had brought a fresh twist, after he dashed to joint commissioner of police Milind Bharambe in Mumbai.
It’s not clear whether Wankhede will remain a part of the probe but NCB sources told The New Indian that the drug consumption and peddling charges, which are now being discussed in sessions court in Mumbai probe against Aryan and seven others who were arrested on October 3, a day after raid on a Goa-bound luxury cruise ship will continue like before.
Wankhede is in Delhi after he was asked to appear before the NCB Chief SN Pradhan amid the allegations of bribery.
“The inquiry against Wankhede will be conducted by Gyaneshwar Singh, the NCB deputy director general (DDG) of the northern region based at its headquarters,” a senior NCB official told The New Indian.
Wankhede had arrived in south Delhi’s RK Puram area in the morning, but refused to talk to the media.
NCB has till date arrested 20 people in connection with the drugs case and questioned Bollywood actor Ananya Panday, daughter of Chunky Pandey.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik has separately leveled allegations against Wankhede.
The Maha Minister has questioned two independent witnesses of the NCB in the Aryan Khan case.
Earlier in the day, Malik also addressed a press conference on the alleged letters he received alleging phone tapping by Wankhede and others.
