Bombay High Court Questions Sameer Wankhede over Release of ‘SRK Chats’ in Controversial Drug Case
Anti-drug agency officer faces scrutiny over alleged WhatsApp conversations with Bollywood star
Sameer Wankhede, the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal officer embroiled in a high-profile drug case involving actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, faced the ire of the Bombay High Court on Monday over the release of alleged WhatsApp chats between himself and the Bollywood star. The court questioned Wankhede as to why he had circulated the chats when the matter was still sub-judice.
Wankhede, who was the NCB zonal director at the time of Aryan Khan’s arrest in 2021, was later accused of attempting to extort ₹25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to secure his son’s release. The release of the purported WhatsApp chats has now raised concerns about the officer’s conduct and the potential violation of investigative protocols.
During the court proceedings, Wankhede was reprimanded for producing the chats in open court, which was deemed a violation of the rules as an investigating officer should not engage in conversations with members of the accused’s family. Despite the reprimand, the court extended interim protection to Wankhede, with the condition that he refrains from publishing any more alleged WhatsApp chats or making press statements. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 8.
The alleged WhatsApp chats, which garnered significant attention last week, purportedly showed Shah Rukh Khan pleading with Wankhede to go easy on his son. These chats were presented by Wankhede to assert his innocence. However, doubts have been raised regarding the authenticity of the messages, including claims that Shah Rukh Khan does not even have a WhatsApp account. The chats question Wankhede’s integrity as a law enforcement officer but make no mention of any bribe being involved.
It should be noted that Hindustan Times has not independently verified the authenticity of these alleged chats.
The release of the chats came after Wankhede approached the Bombay High Court to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case against him. The CBI has accused Wankhede, a revenue services officer, of soliciting a bribe of ₹25 crore, of which ₹50 lakh has allegedly been paid. The CBI is expected to submit its response to Wankhede’s plea to dismiss the case by June 3.
In a separate development, Wankhede claimed that he has received multiple death threats over the past 96 hours and stated his intention to write to the Mumbai Police Commissioner to request special security.
Vigilance reports from the Narcotics Control Bureau indicate that Wankhede has made six foreign trips in the last five years and owns four flats in Mumbai. Additionally, he allegedly purchased a Rolex Gold watch worth ₹22.05 lakh. Agency sources have informed Hindustan Times that Wankhede vehemently denies the allegations against him, dismissing them as false and the result of a “wild imagination.”
As this high-profile case continues to unfold, the focus remains on the alleged misconduct of Sameer Wankhede and the authenticity of the controversial WhatsApp chats. The court’s stern questioning and the ongoing CBI investigation will likely play a crucial role in determining the truth behind these allegations and the implications they may have on the case against Aryan Khan and the reputation of the NCB.
Anti-drug agency officer faces scrutiny over alleged WhatsApp conversations with Bollywood star
Sameer Wankhede, the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal officer embroiled in a high-profile drug case involving actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, faced the ire of the Bombay High Court on Monday over the release of alleged WhatsApp chats between himself and the Bollywood star. The court questioned Wankhede as to why he had circulated the chats when the matter was still sub-judice.
Wankhede, who was the NCB zonal director at the time of Aryan Khan’s arrest in 2021, was later accused of attempting to extort ₹25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to secure his son’s release. The release of the purported WhatsApp chats has now raised concerns about the officer’s conduct and the potential violation of investigative protocols.
During the court proceedings, Wankhede was reprimanded for producing the chats in open court, which was deemed a violation of the rules as an investigating officer should not engage in conversations with members of the accused’s family. Despite the reprimand, the court extended interim protection to Wankhede, with the condition that he refrains from publishing any more alleged WhatsApp chats or making press statements. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 8.
The alleged WhatsApp chats, which garnered significant attention last week, purportedly showed Shah Rukh Khan pleading with Wankhede to go easy on his son. These chats were presented by Wankhede to assert his innocence. However, doubts have been raised regarding the authenticity of the messages, including claims that Shah Rukh Khan does not even have a WhatsApp account. The chats question Wankhede’s integrity as a law enforcement officer but make no mention of any bribe being involved.
It should be noted that Hindustan Times has not independently verified the authenticity of these alleged chats.
The release of the chats came after Wankhede approached the Bombay High Court to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case against him. The CBI has accused Wankhede, a revenue services officer, of soliciting a bribe of ₹25 crore, of which ₹50 lakh has allegedly been paid. The CBI is expected to submit its response to Wankhede’s plea to dismiss the case by June 3.
In a separate development, Wankhede claimed that he has received multiple death threats over the past 96 hours and stated his intention to write to the Mumbai Police Commissioner to request special security.
Vigilance reports from the Narcotics Control Bureau indicate that Wankhede has made six foreign trips in the last five years and owns four flats in Mumbai. Additionally, he allegedly purchased a Rolex Gold watch worth ₹22.05 lakh. Agency sources have informed Hindustan Times that Wankhede vehemently denies the allegations against him, dismissing them as false and the result of a “wild imagination.”
As this high-profile case continues to unfold, the focus remains on the alleged misconduct of Sameer Wankhede and the authenticity of the controversial WhatsApp chats. The court’s stern questioning and the ongoing CBI investigation will likely play a crucial role in determining the truth behind these allegations and the implications they may have on the case against Aryan Khan and the reputation of the NCB.
