Aryan Khan case: SET report says NCB officials stole valuables of accused
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 May, 2023 12:03 PM
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The Special Enquiry Team (SET) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has alleged in its report that members of Sameer Wankhede's team 'stole' valuables from the accused individuals caught in the Aryan Khan case.
It has been alleged that they stole Nupur Satija's Apple watch.
"There are allegations of valuables being taken away without documentation. Several witnesses examined by the SET stated that their valuables were taken away by officers of the NCB Mumbai without documentation. Accused Nupur Satija has complained regarding the theft of her Apple watch," read the SET report.
The Controversy
Sameer Wankhede, the former Mumabai zonal director of NCB, finds himself in a precarious position as allegations have emerged that he attempted to extort Rs 25 crore from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in exchange of releasing his son Aryan Khan, who was accused in the Cordelia Cruise drugs case.
According to the SET report, Wankhede and his subordinates neglected proper protocols during the drug bust case. The names of Aryan Khan and his friend Arbaaz Merchant were added at the last minute, while some other suspects' names were omitted from the original information note. The SET also found that the suspects' phones were not seized or documented properly, impacting the chain of custody for crucial evidence.
Testimonies from witnesses examined by the SET indicate that both the accused persons' belongings and those of other suspects were confiscated by the NCB officers without any documentation.
Also, despite Arbaaz Merchant identifying Siddarth Shah as his drugs supplier, the NCB allowed Shah to walk free. Subsequent analysis of Shah's phone conversations on WhatsApp and Telegram by the SET provided evidence of drugs consumption, casting doubt over the NCB's decision.
The SET also discovered significant lapses at the NCB Mumbai office, including corrupt CCTV footage and discrepancies between the DVR and hard discs provided, raising suspicions of intentional withholding of crucial evidence.
Based on this report, the CBI filed an FIR against Wankhede and summoned him for questioning.
However, in a relief to Wankhede, the Bombay High Court on Friday directed the CBI to refrain from taking any coercive action against the former NCB Mumbai zonal director in the alleged Rs 25 crore bribery case pertaining to the arrest of Aryan Khan after the cruise ship drugs raid.
The Enforcement Directorate has questioned former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at its Jalandhar office in connection with the illegal sand mining case involving Channi's nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey, and others.
Extending his best wishes to all Indians living in the country as well as abroad, he said: "These festivals celebrated all across the country reflect our diversity and also emphasise our unity. The festivals are occasions of enjoyment for the farmer community who work tirelessly for the betterment and progress of the nation."
The deceased was identified as Himanshu while his wife Priya (30) and son Krishna (3) are presently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. The other injured were Harsh Makkar (40), his wife Seema (35), one Ice Cream vendor Ranjeet Sarkar (32) and one pedestrian Varun Kashyap (35).
On the 103rd anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh, the Congress paid tributes to the martyrs and attacked the current government over alleged "authoritarian mentality" and said in new India it's same "tyranny".
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said the Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies, briefed the Cabinet about the status of the ongoing procurement. It was informed that 14.9 lakh metric tons of wheat had arrived in the mandis out of which more than 12 lakh metric tons had already been purchased.
The deceased, Sarabjit Singh Brar, was a resident of Laburnum Apartments at DLF Phase 1 in Gurugram. At the time of the incident that occured on Wednesday morning, Brar was at his flat along with his wife.
.jpg "President greets people on Vaisakhi, regional new years")
