Govt calls for action against Sameer Wankhede for 'shoddy investigation’ in drugs case involving Aryan Khan: Report

Sameer Wankhede was on deputation to the NCB starting September 2020. His term ended December 31 and he has returned to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Sameer Wankhede - the former Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director who conducted the op that led to Aryan Khan's arrest in the drugs-on-cruise case - faces strict action for 'shoddy work' in the investigative process, officials said Friday afternoon.

File pic of Sameer Wankhede shared by news agency ANI.

This comes shortly after Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, was given a clean chit by a special NCB team re-examining his case.

The team found there was insufficient evidence to file charges against Aryan Khan - whom the NCB team led by Wankhede had claimed was linked to an international drugs syndicate - and five others.

Wankhede has so far refused to comment on the anti-drugs agency's clean chit.

Wankhede was on deputation to the NCB from September 2020. His term ended December 31 and he has returned to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

He led initial inquiries into the drugs-on-cruise case - as a result of which Aryan Khan and several others were arrested on narcotics charges.

He also said Mr Wankhede is a Muslim by birth, a claim the officer denied, and accused him of corruption amid speculation Aryan Khan's arrest was meant to extort money, possibly from his father - Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The NCB on Friday also gave detailed reasons why Aryan Khan had been given a clean chit, indicating there were lapses in the investigative process.

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Before his NCB posting, Sameer Wankhede, a 2008-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, was posted with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.