ED files money laundering case against ex-NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede

Mumbai: In a fresh development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede, who is facing allegations and investigation for seeking a bribe of Rs 25 crore vis-a-vis the Cordelia drugs-on-cruise bust case involving Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan.

Wankhede’s tenure as the Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai is under the scanner.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already investigating the case and has registered a First Information Report (FIR).

The ED, which has booked a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has now summoned him based on the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).

Wankhede, a 2008-batch IRS officer of the Customs and Indirect Taxes cadre, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking protection from any coercive action by the anti-money laundering agency.

“The ED had registered the said ECIR in 2023. It is surprising that this ECIR is based on the CBI FIR which is already under question before the Bombay HC. Since the matter is subjudice, I don't intend to comment anything further. I will give the appropriate reply in the court at the appropriate time. I reiterate that I have full faith in the Indian Judiciary. Satyamev Jayate,” Wankhede said.

It may be recalled, the NCB had arrested total of 20 persons during the 2-3 October, 2021 midnight Cordelia drugs-on-cruise raid and subsequent investigations. The NCB had seized 13 grams of cocaine, 5 grams of mephedrone, 21 grams of charas and 22 MDMA/Ecstasy pills during the raid on the Cordelia cruise from Mumbai to Goa.