Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik accused Narcotics Control Bureau zonal chief Sameer Wankhede of ‘extortion’ on Thursday. He also allegedly leaked images of Sameer Wankhede’s sister, Yasmeen Wankhede. The allegation comes after the agency reportedly summoned Bollywood actor Ananya Pandey on Thursday in connection with Shah Rukh Khan‘s son Aryan Khan’s arrest in a drugs case. According to reports, Ananya’s name appeared in some of the WhatApp discussions acquired by the NCB.
“A special officer (Sameer Wankhede) was brought in to the NCB after Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide. CBI is investigating the case but the mystery over his suicide or murder remains unresolved. But the NCB is now after the film industry. Dozens of actors were paraded before the NCB. Rhea Chakraborty was implicated,” Nawab Malik told Hindustan Times.
Malik hinted at a deeper connection between Sameer Wankhede and Bollywood and said, “During the pandemic, the entire film industry was in the Maldives. Sameer Wankhede must clarify what he and his family members were doing there at that time. He should clarify whether he was in Dubai.”
“We are very clear. All this extortion took place in Maldives and Dubai and I will release those photos,” the Maharashtra minister added.
Nawab Malik, whose son-in-law was also arrested by the NCB in another drugs case, has made a new accusation against the agency. Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra chief minister, and Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have recently criticised the ongoing NCB operation against Bollywood.
Thackeray recently said the “NCB is only interested in catching celebrities, getting photos and making noise, while Maharashtra Police have recovered drugs worth crores.”
Following Shah Rukh Khan’s visit to Arthur Road Prison on Thursday, the NCB staff paid a visit to SRK’s residence to complete some paperwork. According to reports, Ananya Pandey has been called by the agency in connection with the Aryan Khan case.