Mon Mar 23 11:58:46 UTC 2026: # Wankhede Denies Bribery Allegations in Aryan Khan Case Before Bombay High Court

The Story:
Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede vehemently denied demanding or accepting a bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan to exonerate his son, Aryan Khan, in a 2021 cruise ship drugs case. This denial was delivered through his counsel, Aabad Ponda, before the Bombay High Court on Monday, March 23, 2026, during a hearing regarding Wankhede’s petition to quash the CBI’s May 2023 FIR against him on charges of corruption and bribery. The CBI alleges that Wankhede and others demanded ₹25 crore from Khan for a clean chit.

Key Points:

  • Sameer Wankhede denies demanding or taking a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan in the Aryan Khan drugs case.
  • Wankhede’s counsel, Aabad Ponda, argued before the Bombay High Court that the CBI lacks evidence to support the bribery allegations.
  • The CBI FIR alleges that Wankhede and others demanded ₹25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan.
  • Aryan Khan was arrested on October 2, 2021, following a raid on a cruise ship.
  • The NCB eventually filed a chargesheet against 14 accused, but gave Aryan Khan a clean chit.
  • An “independent witness” claimed in 2021 that NCB officials demanded ₹25 crore to release Aryan Khan.
  • The Enforcement Directorate has also registered a money laundering case against Wankhede based on the CBI’s FIR.

Key Takeaways:

  • The legal battle surrounding the Aryan Khan drugs case continues, with serious allegations of corruption against a former NCB official.
  • The case highlights the potential for abuse of power and the importance of accountability within law enforcement agencies.
  • The conflicting narratives and lack of concrete evidence presented by the CBI, as argued by Wankhede’s counsel, indicate the complexities of the case.

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