Aryan Khan Row | “Tell Me, 10 Years Or 20?”: Bombay HC Slams CBI Over Delay In Rs 25-Crore Shah Rukh Khan Bribery Probe Against Sameer Wankhede
CBI Today (July 8) told Bombay High Court it will complete investigation against ex-NCB officer Sameer Wankhede in Shah Rukh Khan bribery case within 3 months. Court admitted Wankhede’s plea and extended his protection.
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Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today informed the Bombay High Court that it will complete its investigation within three months in the bribery case filed against former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sate.
This case is linked to alleged demands of a Rs 25-crore bribe from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan during the investigation into the Cordelia cruise drug case, in which Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khanwas arrested.
The matter was heard by a Bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Rajesh Patil.
The judges asked the CBI why the investigation was getting delayed again and again. The Court strongly questioned the delay by asking,
“Tell me within how many years you will complete the investigation, 10 years, 20 years?”
Initially, the CBI’s lawyer, Advocate Kuldeep Patil, requested more time to get further instructions. But the Court was not satisfied and asked for a direct and clear reply. Later, Patil gave a commitment and said the CBI would finish its investigation in three months.
Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, representing Sameer Wankhede, raised strong objections to the repeated delays by the CBI. He told the Court that this case has been pending for almost two years and that the CBI keeps saying each time that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will argue the case.
Ponda added,
“This is affecting my client’s career. His promotion is on hold. If the court admits the matter, we can approach the Central Administrative Tribunal for relief.”
Again, the CBI requested the Court to postpone the hearing, giving the same reason. But the judges said this reason has been used many times before. So, the Court insisted that the CBI must now give a clear and final timeline.
Once the CBI gave its assurance, the Court agreed to admit Sameer Wankhede’s petition. It also decided to extend the interim protection earlier granted to him, which means he cannot be arrested or face coercive action for now.
However, the judges made it clear that even though Wankhede is protected for now, the CBI is still allowed to file a chargesheet if they get permission from the Court.
Sameer Wankhede was booked by the CBI in May 2023. The complaint said that he and others tried to demand Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan. In return, they allegedly offered favorable treatment for Aryan Khan during the cruise ship drug case investigation.
According to the complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Wankhede and some others were involved in extortion and illegal demand of money from the actor.
The CBI registered the case against Wankhede under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 388 (extortion by threat) of the Indian Penal Code. They also added provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deal with bribery and misuse of position.
Sameer Wankhede has strongly denied all these allegations. He has called the case a political conspiracy. In his defense, he submitted text message conversations that he had with Shah Rukh Khan. Wankhede claimed these messages prove that there was no pressure or money demand. He said the messages were respectful in tone and showed no sign of any wrongdoing.
CASE TITLE:
Sateer wankhede v cbi.
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