The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken a significant step in the ongoing controversy surrounding the arrest of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, by registering a First Information Report (FIR). The FIR has been filed against Sameer Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, and several foreign nationals under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The accusations claim that Wankhede and others demanded Rs 25 crore from Aryan Khan to avoid implicating him in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case, while allegedly accepting Rs 50 lakh from them.
Sameer Wankhede, who served as the head of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zone during the Cordelia cruise case, led a team of officers in the raid on the Cordelia ship on October 2, 2021. The NCB claimed to have seized various drugs and arrested 17 individuals, including Aryan Khan. However, Aryan Khan was subsequently granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28. Furthermore, another NCB team investigating the matter did not find sufficient evidence to chargesheet Aryan Khan in the case.
According to sources within the CBI, an FIR has been lodged, and simultaneous raids are being conducted in 29 locations, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi, and Kanpur. The investigation aims to shed light on the alleged corruption involving Sameer Wankhede and the foreign nationals.
In recent developments, the NCB terminated the services of superintendent Vishwa Vijay Singh, a member of the team involved in the Cordelia cruise raid and Aryan Khan’s arrest. Singh’s termination comes in connection with another case, for which he was suspended in April 2022, leading to an inquiry. Following the inquiry report’s findings, Singh was dismissed from service.
Singh had also led a team of officers to Shah Rukh Khan’s residence, Mannat, during the Cordelia case investigation. Additionally, a vigilance inquiry was initiated regarding alleged irregularities in the ship raid, including the use of witnesses with prior criminal records. The inquiry concluded in November 2022, resulting in departmental action against seven officers involved, whose identities were not disclosed.
As the CBI’s investigation unfolds, it holds the potential to uncover the truth behind the corruption allegations surrounding the high-profile Cordelia cruise case. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the individuals involved, including Sameer Wankhede, and could reshape public perception of the events surrounding Aryan Khan’s arrest.