Mumbai: Former Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Monday told the Bombay High Court that he neither demanded nor accepted any bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan in connection with the 2021 cruise drug case involving his son Aryan Khan.
The submission came during the hearing of Wankhede’s petition seeking quashing of the FIR registered by Central Bureau of Investigation against him and four others in an alleged bribery and corruption case linked to the high-profile Cordelia cruise drug case.
Counsel Tells Court No Evidence of Bribe Demand Exists
Senior advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Wankhede, made the submissions before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam.
According to the defence:
- No bribe was demanded from Shah Rukh Khan
- No money was received by Sameer Wankhede
- CBI has no material evidence proving demand or acceptance of illegal gratification
The defence argued that the prosecution narrative lacks direct proof linking Wankhede to any monetary transaction.
FIR Alleges ₹25 Crore Demand to Spare Aryan Khan
The CBI FIR, registered in May 2023, alleges that ₹25 crore was demanded from Shah Rukh Khan in exchange for not implicating Aryan Khan in the cruise drugs case.
According to the FIR:
- Initial demand was ₹25 crore
- Amount was allegedly negotiated down to ₹18 crore
- Demand was allegedly linked to release of Aryan Khan
Five Named in CBI FIR
Apart from Sameer Wankhede, the FIR names:
- Vishwa Vijay Singh
- Ashish Ranjan
- Kiran Gosavi
- Sanville D’Souza
Investigators allege that private intermediaries were involved in the alleged negotiation process.
Defence Says Cruise Raid Was Based on Legitimate Intelligence Input
Wankhede’s counsel argued before the court that the cruise raid itself was lawful and based on credible intelligence received by the NCB.
Cordelia Raid Conducted Under Legal Procedure
According to submissions:
- NCB received prior intelligence regarding alleged narcotics movement
- Search operation followed legal procedure
- Arrests were made based on material available during the operation
The defence maintained that the action was part of official duty rather than any criminal conspiracy.
ED Also Probing Money Laundering Angle
In 2024, Enforcement Directorate had also initiated a money laundering case against Wankhede based on corruption allegations emerging from the same matter.
The ED probe focused on whether proceeds of alleged bribery were generated through the accused network.
Aryan Khan Was Arrested in October 2021
Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3, 2021, one day after the NCB raid aboard the cruise ship off Mumbai coast.
The case attracted nationwide attention because of:
- Shah Rukh Khan’s involvement as father
- Massive media coverage
- Questions over NCB procedure
NCB SIT Later Gave Aryan Khan Clean Chit
A Special Investigation Team formed within the NCB later reviewed the case.
SIT Found No Evidence of Larger Drug Conspiracy
On May 27, the SIT concluded that Aryan Khan was not part of any larger drug trafficking syndicate.
This significantly altered the legal narrative around the original arrests.
High Court Hearing Crucial for Wankhede’s Future Legal Position
The current Bombay High Court proceedings are significant because they will determine:
- Whether the CBI FIR survives judicial scrutiny
- Whether corruption prosecution continues
- Whether Wankhede gets relief from criminal proceedings
The matter remains closely watched because it sits at the intersection of criminal law, administrative accountability, and one of India’s most publicised narcotics investigations.
