Extortion case: Will give 3 days’ notice to Sameer Wankhede before arrest, Mumbai Police tells Bombay HC

The Mumbai Police on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that 3-days’ notice will be given to the Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede before arresting him in the extortion case initiated by it against him.

A Bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and SV Kotwal recorded the assurance given by the police and disposed of a plea by Wankehde seeking transfer of probe initiated against him in an extortion case by the Mumbai Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"Public Prosecutor assures three working days notice will be given before arrest," the Court said, as per a Bar & Bench report.

It then proceeded to dispose of the petition while making it clear that it has not ruled on the merits of the case.

The Mumbai Police had earlier today set up a 4-member team to investigate allegations of extortion and corruption against Wankhede.

The complaints that are being probed into are the ones filed by Prabhakar Sail, independent witness in the cruise ship drug case, Nitin Deshmukh and Mumbai lawyers Sudha Dwivedi and Kanishka Jain.

The complaints were filed after an affidavit by Sail was widely circulated in the media on Sunday in which it was alleged that the NCB made him sign a blank panchnama in the cruise ship drugs case, in which Aryan Khan has been implicated.

The affidavit also spoke about overhearing a telephonic conversation as per which Rs 25 crores was demanded to settle the Aryan Khan drug case.

Wankehde's counsel, Senior Advocate Atul Nanda along with counsels Sujay Kantawala and Rameeza Hakeem mentioned the matter before the High Court stating that Wankhede is apprehending arrest by Mumbai Police.

"If Mumbai Police arrests me today, which is my apprehension, milords should not wait till the state flouts my rights," he said.

"Milords may protect my rights. I am not a drug peddler," Wankhede's counsel submitted.

He prayed that the probe be transferred to the CBI or the NIA.

It was also submitted that the probe was initiated in violation of the Police Act.

The Public Prosecutor (PP) opposed the plea stating that the Mumbai Police has just started the enquiry and the plea by Wankehde is premature.

"The complaint which we have received is against individual. As of today, Mumbai Police has not registered any first information report against NCB officer," the PP said.

The Court asked the PP to make a statement that no coercive action be taken failing which it will pass an order.

The PP then took instructions before telling the Court that 3-days notice will be given before taking any coercive action.

The Court recorded the same and disposed of the plea.