NDPS accused alleges Sameer Wankhede planted false evidence, draws parallel to Aryan Khan; NCB objects

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has taken objection to a person accused in a drug case making allegations against NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and drawing parallels between his case and the recent cruise-ship drug case in which Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan was the prime accused..In its response filed before a Mumbai court in the bail plea of accused, one Zaid Rana, the NCB said that Rana by making comparisons with Aryan Khan case, was attempting to mislead the Court. .Rana, in his written submissions had claimed that the panch-witnesses in the present case were same as those in Aryan Khan’s drug case, but following the controversy, the witnesses had been changed with a false report..The NCB clarified at the outset that what Rana had stated was a “ploy to completely mislead and prejudice the Court”. It was contended that Rana was trying to bring out “a completely new case outside the paradigm of his bail application”..He had mischievously tried to draw parallels with the Aryan Khan case when nothing of that sort was pleaded in his bail application, the NCB submitted. “A vague reference to the Aryan Khan case made.. in relation to the Panchas is completely false, mischievous and misleading," the response said. .Rana had been arrested with three co-accused in April 2021 for his alleged role for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act Act (NDPS Act). The NCB had recovered 1.32 grams of LSD blots (commercial quantity) from Rana’s conscious possession with 22 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be ganja, and 1 capsule of an unknown psychotropic substance..The accused stated in his bail application that Wankhede had registered this case based on fabricated evidence against him as there was animosity between Rana’s parents and Wankhede’s tenant, who were neighbours.Due to this personal enmity, Wankhede got the alleged recovery planted in his house, Rana stated in his plea..He also pointed out that though CCTV footage would show Wankhede’s presence in his house during the search, the charge sheet (filed a few months ago) was silent on this aspect.The ‘scathing’ allegations against the Mumbai Zonal Director without any material whatsoever by the applicant "spoke volumes of the maladies who had come with an agenda to defame the image and repute of the agency", the NCB stated.“Such allegations are not only bereft of material but also smacked with malafides with an intent to mislead the Court and portray a false picture against the responsible officers conducting operations in due discharge of their duties under NDPS Act,” the NCB argued..It was further contended that the present allegations against Wankhede came belatedly, after over a period of 7 months from the date of the alleged planting of the contraband..Through its reply to the bail application, the NCB sought dismissal of the bail application with strictures, as “such proceedings tend to send a wrong message to the society” and hence was supposed to be admonished.Special Judge VV Patil has posted the matter for final hearing on November 26, 2021.

NDPS accused alleges Sameer Wankhede planted false evidence, draws parallel to Aryan Khan; NCB objects

Neha Joshi

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