Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik urges NCB to probe 26 ‘fake’ drug raid cases

Later in the day, Malik sent a letter to NCB, director general, SN Pradhan seeking probe into the allegations made in the letter.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Friday urged the narcotics control bureau (NCB) to probe the 26 cases brought forward by an anonymous employee of the agency alleging that agency’s zonal director Sameer Wankhede framed innocent people.

Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik addresses a press conference in Mumbai (PTI)

“One Shekhar Kamble, a witness in one of the 26 cases, has narrated how the NCB officials framed an innocent Nigerian citizen after the raid failed to catch the drug peddler... Nabbing offenders is the responsibility of NCB but if innocents are being framed then a probe shall be conducted,” Malik said.

Later in the day, Malik sent a letter to NCB, director general, SN Pradhan seeking probe into the allegations made in the letter. “The NCB has said it will not take cognisance of the anonymous letter purportedly written by an NCB employee as the Central Vigilance Commission guidelines are against it,” the NCP leader added.

“These are malicious allegations to target my reputation. They are false and are being levelled for the first time in the 15 years of my service. I condemn the attempt in strong words,” Sameer Wankhede said.