Mumbai Drugs Case Highlights: Sameer Wankhede records statement for over 4 hours before NCB vigilance probe team

The Bombay High Court heard a bail plea filed by Aryan Khan and adjourned the case to Thursday. Meanwhile, Nawab Malik released documents and photographs that confirm Wankhede was married earlier and to a Muslim woman The marriage was purportedly conducted as a Muslim ceremony. The minister also said that he would resign if the 'forged' documents he shared turn out to be false.

NCB officials made me sign blank papers, says witness in another drugs case

Days after NCB witness Prabhakar Sail claimed that he was made to sign blank papers by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the cruise drugs case, another witness in a separate drugs case on Wednesday levelled a similar allegation against the agency officials, including its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

Read more

Arrest has become rule and bail exception: Aryan Khan's lawyer

Invoking Constitutional rights, the defence team of Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, on Wednesday sought bail for him on the grounds that his arrest was illegal.

Justice Nitin Sambre adjourned the matter till Thursday.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, a former Attorney General of India, who represented Aryan and senior counsel Amit Desai who stood for Aryan and Arbaaz Merchant and advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, who appeared for Munmum Dhamecha concluded their arguments.

Read more

Cruise ship drugs case: Mere presence can not prove involvement in conspiracy, says court in bail order

Merely because he was present on a cruise ship from where drugs were allegedly seized, it can not be said that he was "in conspiracy" with the other accused, the special NDPS Act court here has said while granting bail to Avin Sahu. Sahu was arrested alongwith actor Shah Rukh Khan's on Aryan and others after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raided a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and allegedly seized drugs on October 2. (PTI)

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

Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Wednesday recorded his statement for more than four hours before a team headed by NCB Deputy Director General (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh in connection with the departmental vigilance probe into allegations of extortion in the drugs-on-cruise case in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested earlier this month. (PTI)

Aryan bail hearing: lawyer says NCB never pressed conspiracy charge officially

The NCB spoke about Aryan Khan, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, and two other accused being involved in a conspiracy, but it never pressed that charge officially following their arrest in a drugs case, their lawyer told the Bombay High Court during bail hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing on bail applications of Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha before Justice N W Sambre remained incomplete on the second day. Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, representing the Narcotics Control Bureau, would be making arguments on Thursday. Khan (23) and other two are in jail since October 3 after the NCB raided a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and allegedly recovered narcotic drugs. (PTI)

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

Kranti Redkar, the wife of Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, on Wednesday said her husband was born as Hindu and he never changed his religion. Redkar also contested the claim made by the Qazi, who had performed the first marriage of Wankhede in 2006, that he was Muslim at the time of the 'nikah'. Wankhede is in the eye of a political storm following allegations of extortion in the high-profile cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested. (PTI)

Bombay High Court will continue hearing the bail applications of Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha tomorrow.The NCB will respond to the applicants' arguments tomorrow.

Kashiff saidthe NCB'swhole case is only on WhatsApp chats. Even if their case is taken on face value, the drugs found in the client's possession was 5 g which is a small quantity.

Kashiff says Munmun never consumed drugs and the case against her is complete bogus.

Kashiff reiterates Munmun is a young 28-year-old and has no connection with anyone.

Advocate Ali Kashif Khan for Munmun Dhamecha says she was invited on the cruise and she was in the room along with one Somiya and Baldev when the NCB came for the alleged search.

Rohatgi saidthat seeing the remand application was misleading as if to make one feel that the large quantities mentioned in that were recovered from Aryan Khan.

"If there is constitutional infirmity it cannot be cured by remand.They have the phone but they don't tell us (in remand). We don't have access to the chats. They have chats, they have possession and yet they chose to mislead me by not telling me what has been recovered," Rohtagi told the court.

Mukul Rohatgi is making submissions for Aryan Khan. Rohatgi says the arrest memo did not give true and correct grounds for arrest.

"Article 22 of the constitution is more imp than Section 50 of 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 his choice."

Desai pointedout how 6 gwere recovered from Arbaaz and 5 gfrom Munmun. Despite this the remand application mentions 21 gof charas. "What is abundantly clearis that there are no WhatsApp chats that connect conspiracy to the rave party."

Desai reading a judgment of 2001 the Bombay High Court said a meeting of minds is necessary to prove conspiracy and three people individually going on a vessel and deciding to consume is not a conspiracy.

Desai citedthe bail granted to the two guests on the ship. "They were on the vessel, on the ship and subsequently arrested after they came back.The reply filed to their bail pleas is identical to ours."

Justice Sambre asked if something was recovered from them (the two persons who were granted bail yesterday).

Desai informed that 2.4 gms of ganja was recovered from one.

Desai said except personal consumption, there was no allegation of use in the arrest memo,adding that the panchnama demolishes the case of conspiracy.

Desai contendedthat the three are not accused of 'use' as defined under the NDPS Act as per the arrest memo. "No allegation in the arrest memo of 'use'. So there was a clear understanding that this was a case of nothing more than personal consumption."

Desai arguedthat they should have been given a notice under Section 41A of the CrPC. And because they haven't been given such a notice, they should be released on bail.

"First remand application does not talk about conspiracy. So the court, at the time of the first remand, was misled into believing that they were also charged under Section 28 and 29 of NDPS Act," Desai told the bench.

Desai also referred to a judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court holding that Section 41A CrPC will apply to NDPS Act.

"So three people were arrested individually. Why was there a need for an arrest based on the evidence at that time? There was no conspiracy at that point," he said.

Desai said that bail is the rule and jail is the exception but now, 'arrest is the rule and bail is the exception'.

Senior counsel Amit Desai, arguing for bail of accused Arbaz Merchant, tells Bombay HC that based on assessment of articles recovered on October 3, only consumption was alleged. "If there was no conspiracy at that moment, how come conspiracy came later," he asked.

Desai submits that the arrest is illegal, referring to the Arnesh Kumar judgment, which prescribed directions against automatic arrest in lesser offences

Desai has said thatin that afternoon of October 3, all the three (Aryan Khan, Arbaaz and Munmun) have been arrested for identical offences. Section 28 and 29 were not added at that stage.

"They were charged only with possession of small quantities and consumption.Even those who apprehended themtreated them as coming there individually. Punishment for which is one year.So the question the officer should have asked himself that if they have come there individually, what should they have been charged with?"

The Bombay High Court has taken up the Aryan Khan case

The court has resumedhearing on bail applications of Aryan Khan andother accused; Senior counsel Amit Desai has started arguments for the bail of Arbaz Merchant

Qazi claims Wankhede was Muslim at the time of his first marriage; NCB officer says never changed religion

The Qazi who had performed the first marriage of Sameer Wankhede, the Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in 2006, on Wednesday claimed the officer belonged to a Muslim family otherwise the 'nikah' would not have been solemnised as per Islam. The Qaazi's claim came against the backdrop of Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik's allegations that Wankhede was born as a Muslim, but forged documents, including a caste certificate, to show that he belonged to the Hindu SC category to get a job under quota after clearing the UPSC examination. (PTI)

Former AG Mukul Rohtagi reaches Bombay HC for Aryan Khan's hearing

Sameer Wankhede's father likens Nawab Malik to 'Raavan'

Sameer Wankhede's wife Kranti Redkar Wankhede slams Malik, says drug case against his son-in-law is why the minister is bringing up allegations against Wankhede

Sameer Wankhede's statement is being taken: DDG NCB Gyaneshwar Singh, part of the 5-member team that is probing the allegations of corruption made by Prabhakar Sail, who is a witness in the drugs-on-cruise matter of Mumbai

All material witness for this inquiry will be called. I would not like to take anyone's name here: DDG NCB Gyaneshwar Singh

What Sameer Wankhede's father said on Nawab Malik's claims

Drug lord was on cruise during raid but Wankhede, who is friends with him, let him go: Malik

"I have a video of the drug lord dancing with his girlfriend. If the NCB does not take action, then I will release the video," he said, indicating that the series of expose would continue against Wankhede.

International drug lord was present on Cruise: Nawab Malik

Continuing the broadside, Maharashtra’s minority affairs minister and NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik on Wednesday made a sensational disclosure alleging that an “international drug lord” was present on board cruise ship Cordelia during the 2-3 October raid.

Malik accused NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede of letting him off the hook.

Malik said if the Narcotics Control Bureau Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede's birth certificate, which the minister had posted online to claim the official forged documents to secure job, turns out false, then he will resign & retire from politics

Cruise drugs party organisers took nod from Centre: Nawab Malik

Maulana Muzammil Ahmed, who solemnised the first marriage of Sameer Wankhede with Dr Shabana Quraishi said that it was a Muslim nikah.

“It was a Muslim marriage….the boy was a Muslim, the girl was a Muslim…their parents were Muslim….otherwise, I would not have performed it,” the Qazi told TV channels. The nikah was performed in 2006 and the Meher amount was Rs 33,000,” he said, adding that it was a grand marriage ceremony. He also confirmed the photos released by Nawab Malik.

I married a Muslim woman. I am Dnyandeo Wankhede and not Dawood Wankhede: NCB official Sameer Wankhede's father

The certificates shown by Nawab Malik are fake, says NCB official's dad

We are Hindus, I am from SC community, my son is also a Hindu and from SC community, says Dnyandeo Wankhede, father of Sameer Wankhede

A five-member team of NCB, including DDG NCB Gyaneshwar Singh, arrives in Mumbai from Delhi. to probe allegations against Wankhede and the drugs on cruise raid on October 3

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

A city resident has filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court, seeking directions to Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik to refrain from making any comments against the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in light of the drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is an accused. The public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on Tuesday by one Kausar Ali, who claims to be a priest and a person working for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. Ali has urged the HC to direct Malik not to make any comments against the NCB or any other investigating agency associated with the Aryan Khan case and officers of such agencies, saying it will demoralise the probe agencies and encourage drug abuse among citizens.

Malik explains why he wants to 'expose' Wankhede

'No possession of drugs, why is he in jail': Arguments made for Aryan Khan's bail

Seeking to puncture the Narcotics Control Bureau’s cruise drug case, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan’s defence team contended that he was neither part of any conspiracy nor any contraband was found on him.

Denying the allegations of “conscious possession” because of charges of recovery of 6 gms of contraband from Arbaaz, Rohatgi said, "What somebody else had in their shoe is not my concern… possession of somebody else cannot be my possession unless there is control and knowledge."

Read more

Nawab Malik vs Sameer Wankhede: Why the minister is releasing Wankhede's photos from his purported first marriage

Malik on Monday claimed Wankhede is a Muslim by birth. The minister had released what he claimed was the birth certificate of Wankhede and alleged that the latter had forged documents. However, the NCB official's father later said his name is Dnyandev and not Dawood, as claimed by Malik. On Tuesday, Malik said, "I have all the authentic documents to prove that Sameer Wankhede was born into a Muslim family, but he forged his identity and sought a job under the Scheduled Caste category. As per the law, Dalits who are converted to Islam do not get the quota privilege, thus Sameer Wankhede has denied the job opportunity to a genuine person from the Schedule Caste.”

Nawab Malik tweets photo from Wankhede's first marriage to Shabana Qureshi

Nawab Malik tweets marriage certificate, photographs of Wankhede's purported first marriage

Bombay HC to hear Aryan's bail plea today

Aryan Khan's lawyers Mukul Rohatgi and Satish Maneshinde argued that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has no evidence against the 23-year-old, and he was wrongly arrested and has been kept in jail for over 20 days.

"There is no evidence of consumption, no recovery of drugs and absolutely no evidence to show his participation in this so-called conspiracy and abetment as alleged by the NCB," senior advocate Rohatgi said.

Rohatgi completed his arguments after which the court said it would continue the hearing on the bail pleas of co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha on Wednesday.

The court will on Wednesday also hear the arguments of Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NCB.

Read more

Aryan Khan drugs case: NCB admits Gosavi met Shah Rukh Khan's manager

NCB has admittedthat there was a meeting between K P Gosavi, the private investigator whose selfie with Aryan Khan had gone viral, and Pooja Dadlani, who is the manager of Shah Rukh Khan.

Read more

CM Thackeray to write a letter to PM Modi over portrayal of Bollywood in 'bad light', says Nawab Malik

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the portrayal of Bollywood in a bad light in the wake of recent raids by the NCB which could affect the livelihood of the people dependent on that industry, NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

(PTI)

Drug addicts must not be put in jail: Athawale

Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday stressed that there is a need to make the film industry "drug-free" but said drug addicts must not be put in jail and there must be a change in this law.

Read more

Fan's of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, hold posters written with 'Release Aryan Khan' stand outside Bombay High court in Mumbai, Tuesday. Credit: PTI Photo

No bail for Aryan Khan yet as Bombay HC to continue hearing on October 27

The Bombay High Court will continue on Wednesday hearing on a bail plea filed by Aryan Khan, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, arrested in a case of alleged seizure of narcotic drugs from a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month.

Read more

Aryan case: Cops record statement of witness Sail over extortion bid allegation

Independent witness Prabhakar Sail appeared before Mumbai Police on Tuesday evening for recording statement in connection with his allegation of extortion attempt by NCB officials in the drugs seizure case involving Aryan Khan, an official said in Mumbai.

Read more