In an unexpected turn of events, the police officer who detained Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan for banned drug use has been charged with corruption and extortion.
Sameer Wankhede, a former head of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and two other policemen were charged by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carried out a drug bust on a cruise ship in 2021. Wankhede is reported to have charged Khan for a payment of INR 250 million in order to stop any accusations against Aryan.
The CBI allegedly searched Wankhede’s home for 13 hours on Friday, seizing various papers and a printer. According to the FIR that the CBI filed, the parties deal was ultimately settled at 180 million, and the independent witness KP Gosavi and his assistant Sanville D’Souza took payment of 5 million.
Additionally, as per the FIR, Wankhede reportedly concealed information concerning Gosavi’s international travels, the purchase of pricey watches, and the acquisition of assets by giving the idea that he was an NCB officer.
Unaware of Aryan Khan’s situation, The NCB received a report in October 2021 concerning the abuse of drug on a cruise ship sailing from Mumbai to Goa. The Bureau arrested several people including Aryan during the operation, but he was granted bail due to a lack of solid evidence against him.
Aryan was cleared of all charges by the NCB after seven months.
Wankhede has been charged under sections 388 (extortion by menace) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, in addition to sections 7, 7A, and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.