Aryan Khan bribery case: Sameer Wankhede made many foreign trips, owns huge assets in Mumbai

New DelhiFormer Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede, who is under Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 25 crore to trap Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a drug-on- Are. Cruz Case owns assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Multiple foreign trips, huge property

According to a report filed by the NCB, the ex-anti-drugs officer had made several foreign trips with his family and owned assets disproportionate to his income, said a report filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The NCB report claimed that Wankhede made six trips abroad with his family between 2017 and 2021. Reports said he and his family visited the UK, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the Maldives, where they stayed for 55 days.

However, Wankhede claims that he has spent only Rs 8.75 lakh, which can barely cover the cost of his air travel. The NCB report also claimed that Wankhede owned four flats in Mumbai and 41,688 acres of land in Washim, besides several expensive watches including a Rolex watch worth Rs 17 lakh.

The CBI claims that Wankhede’s wealth was disproportionate to his known sources of income. The copy of the FIR states that he is unable to justify the expenses incurred during his foreign travel.

25 crore bribe

The CBI has accused Sameer Wankhede and his associates of demanding a bribe of Rs 25 crore to frame Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan in the drugs-on-cruise case. The central probe agency claimed that the deal was done for Rs 18 crore.

As per the CBI’s FIR copy, NCB team chief Sameer Wankhede allowed the people who were actually in possession of the drugs and the supplier to go. The FIR copy states that Arbaaz Merchant confessed to possessing charas before the NCB but was let go. Siddharth Shah, who allegedly supplied charas to Arbaaz Merchant, was also released, the CBI FIR said, adding that the objectionable chats between the two were ignored.

The federal agency said the accused were brought in a private vehicle. The private vehicle belonged to KP Gosavi (independent witness). This was done to make it appear to the accused that Gosavi was an employee of NCB, although he was not. The CBI claimed that Gosavi was allowed to get close to the accused against the rules. An attempt was made to extort Rs 25 crore, but the deal was done for Rs 18 crore. Out of this Rs 50 lakh was given in advance.

Being punished for being a patriot: Wankhede

Wankhede alleged on Saturday that he was being punished for being a patriot. Wankhede’s statement came in response to the CBI raids on his residence and other premises on Friday. Wankhede alleged that 18 CBI officials raided his house on Friday while his wife and children were present in the house.

“I am being rewarded for being a patriot, yesterday 18 CBI officials raided my residence and searched for over 12 hours while my wife and children were present in the house. They found Rs 23,000 and four property papers . These assets were acquired earlier.” I have joined the service,” Wankhede said on Saturday.

Sameer Wankhede further claimed that the CBI officials took possession of his wife Kranti Redkar’s phone. The CBI on Friday carried out searches at 29 locations across the country following an alleged corruption case against him and three others linked to the Aryan Khan drugs-on-cruise case. Wankhede has moved the Bombay High Court against the CBI action against him, claiming that the action in Aryan Khan’s case is being vindictive.

Wankhede had raided a cruise and arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in an alleged drug case.