Extortion claims: Sameer Wankhede records statement for over 4 hours before NCB vigilance probe team

Under fire from all quarters, controversial and high-profile NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede was grilled for over four hours by the federal agency’s higher-ups in connection with the barrage of allegations that he faces vis-a-vis the cases over the last one-and-a-half-years including the Cordelia drugs-on-cruise case. 

However, Wankhede would continue to head the probe in the cruise rave party case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan is accused and now fighting for bail.

Also Read | Cruise drugs case: Sameer Wankhede faces two probes

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police has appointed an assistant commissioner of police-level officers to look into the allegations of extortion against Wankhede. 

A five-member NCB team from New Delhi has landed in Mumbai and visited the NCB office at the Ballard Estate and collected some documents related to the case. 

“We have started the probe… This is a very sensitive investigation, too early to share anything. We will not be able to share information in real-time. It’s a sensitive case. We shall enquire into all aspects and later inform the media,” deputy director-general Dnyaneshwar Singh said. 

Also Read | Nikahnama correct but Sameer Wankhede never changed his religion, says his wife

Aryan Khan’s defence team invokes constitutional rights

Invoking constitutional rights, the defence team of Aryan Khan on Wednesday sought bail on the grounds that the arrest was illegal, reports DHNS.

Also Read | PIL in Bombay HC seeks to restrain Nawab Malik from making comments against NCB

Justice Nitin Sambre has adjourned the matter till Thursday. Appearing of Aryan, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi said, “the arrest memo did not give true and correct grounds for arrest…Article 22 of the Constitution is more important than Section 50 of the CrPC. It states that no person should be held without being informed about the grounds of arrest and the person shall have the right to consult a lawyer of their choice.”

“This is a direct infringement of constitutional guarantees. We are all available to the agencies. Bail may be granted…there has been enough custody of the two, who are both residents of Mumbai,” said senior counsel Amit Desai concluding arguments for Aryan and Arbaaz Merchant.

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