Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely demise left the world in shock. His death opened up a can of worms as the entire focus shifted to drug consumption by celebrities in the Hindi film industry. More than three years later, fans are still awaiting the verdict on the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) probe in the matter. Now, a recent report by the Times of India states that on Monday, the Bombay High Court stated that no coercive steps will be taken against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede till April 10 on the notices issued to him regarding NCB’s preliminary inquiry over the irregularities in the drug case related to SSR’s suicide.
The report further adds that the NCB had initiated an inquiry against Wankhede in connection to the late actor's untimely death and another case of the arrest of a Nigerian national due to drug possession. Wankhede's team probed the latter case after they received an anonymous complaint of irregularities during the investigation into them. As per the media publication, the NCB issued over eight notices to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and directed him to appear before Deputy Director General Sanjay Singh, who heads the preliminary inquiry. ALSO READ: Sameer Wankhede Files Defamation Case Against Rakhi Sawant For Rs 11 Lakh; Here’s What We Know- REPORTS
The Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer filed a petition in the high court last week challenging the inquiry. He claimed that the notices issued to him, were a way to target him and that the inquiry was an “act of vengeance.” A division bench headed by Justice Revati Mohite Dere, on Monday, directed the NCB to respond to the plea by April 10. The court added that until the date no coercive action should be taken against Sameer Wankhede. ALSO READ: Sameer Wankhede’s Wife Kranti Redkar-Wankhede Receives Death Threats From Pakistan; Marathi Actress Files A Formal Complaint- REPORTS
While explaining to the HC that Singh cannot head the inquiry against Wankhede, his counsel, Rajiv Chavan said, “While probing these cases, including the one related to Sushant Singh Rajput, Wankhede, who was at the time the agency's western region zonal director, used to take approvals from Singh, who was his superior officer. Hence, now Singh cannot head this inquiry.”
Chavan added that the actions taken by Wankhede in both cases were after the approval of Singh and other superior officers. NCB’s advocate Manisha Jagtap went on to state that Sameer cannot choose or pick the officer, who would conduct the inquiry against him. In his plea, Wankheded has claimed that the agency cannot initiate inquires against him based on anonymous complaints. As reported by the TOI, the complaint against Sameer Wankhede, with regards to the drug case lodged after SSR’s death, was allegedly submitted by actress Sapna Pabbi, who is a “wanted accused” in the chargesheet filed in the case.
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