New Delhi: NCB Mumbai Regional Director Samir Wankhede arrives at NCB office
Amid the ongoing tussle between Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Sameer Wankhede and NCP leader Nawab Malik, the NCB has said that he will continue to be the investigating officer in the drugs-on-cruise case till sufficient information is received against him. The agency’s Deputy Director General (Northern Zone) Dnyaneshwar Singh made such a claim on Wednesday. As part of the investigation, Sameer Wankhede was questioned for about four hours on Wednesday and he presented many facts in front of the team.
Dnyaneshwar Singh told reporters that a five-member investigation team of NCB has started investigation into the allegations leveled by Prabhakar cell through an affidavit on Wednesday. An NCB team headed by him is in Mumbai to investigate allegations of corruption leveled by Prabhakar Cell, a witness in the drugs-on-cruise case.
“We requested the South West Zone office to give notice to key witnesses KV Gosavi and SAIL, but they could not be contacted. Through media, I would request them to join the investigation and give evidence before the Special Investigation Team. I am camping in the CRPF mess, Bandra, Mumbai,” Singh said.
“Sameer Wankhede was questioned for almost four hours today. He placed many facts before the team. If necessary, more evidence and documents would be sought from him. He submitted the documents related to the case which were sought. If required, So he will be further interrogated till sufficient information is found against him, till then he will continue to be the investigating officer in the drugs case on the cruise.”
NCB witness Kiran Gosavi’s bodyguard cell had alleged that Gosavi had taken Rs 50 lakh from a person after raiding the cruise ship. Gosavi has denied the allegations.
The NCB in its affidavit in the court on Monday named SAIL as a “hostile witness”.
Earlier today, Mumbai Police appointed an ACP level officer to probe the allegations against Sameer Wankhede. Mumbai Police said, “All complaints received against Wankhede will be investigated by the officer. Four police stations in Mumbai have received such complaints so far.”
An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia cruise ship, which was on its way to Goa on October 2. A total of 20 people, including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, have been arrested in this case.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Nawab Malik on Wednesday said that if the birth certificate of Sameer Wankhede, which was posted online by the minister claiming to have forged official documents to get the job, turned out to be false, he would be terminated from his ministerial post. Will resign and retire as a politician. .
He also claimed that the organizers of the Cordelia cruise drugs party had taken permission directly from the “Directorate of Shipping” at the center and not from the state police or the state home department.
(agency input)
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