Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau on Tuesday informed the Bombay High Court that its ongoing enquiry against former zonal director Sameer Wankhede is based on specific “non-anonymous” complaints and not influenced by NCP leader Nawab Malik.
In an affidavit filed by Deputy Director General Vishal Sanap, the agency clarified that the probe stems from two identifiable complaints alleging irregularities in Wankhede’s past cases. It firmly denied receiving any communication from Malik regarding the matter.
The agency told the court that it has both the right and duty to examine such allegations and added that the current process is only at the stage of preliminary verification. It further stated that Wankhede has been delaying the proceedings since 2024 by filing multiple legal petitions.
Wankhede has approached the high court challenging the enquiry, claiming he is being targeted following his role in high-profile investigations, including the 2021 cruise drug case involving Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan. He also alleged that Malik held a personal grudge against him due to the arrest of Malik’s son-in-law in a separate drug case.
The NCB, however, maintained that Wankhede has been summoned only to provide his explanation in line with principles of natural justice. The bench of Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata has now scheduled the next hearing after two weeks, granting time to Wankhede’s counsel to respond to the affidavit.
The controversy traces back to the wider drug probe launched after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, which brought several high-profile names under scrutiny, including Rhea Chakraborty.
Separately, the Central Bureau of Investigation had booked Wankhede in 2023 on charges of alleged extortion linked to the cruise case. The Enforcement Directorate also initiated a money laundering probe against him. Wankhede has secured interim protection from coercive action in both cases.
