Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has initiated a vigilance probe against its zonal director (western region) Sameer Wankhede after the personal bodyguard of a witness in the Aryan Khan drug case accused him of demanding a bribe. An affidavit by Prabhakar Sail, assigned to protect the witness K P Gosavi, cited an alleged meeting in which a payoff to Wankhede was discussed.

NCB deputy director general (DDG) for the north, Gyaneshwar Singh, told TOI he was “supervising the inquiry into allegations (against Wankhede). We have taken note of the affidavit and have initiated the inquiry. It will be transparent and fair.” Singh told PTI a report was also received from NCB’s DDG for the northwest region and that it was marked to the vigilance section of the bureau. We are a professional organisation and we are open for an inquiry into any allegation against our staffers.” Wankhede refused to comment on the inquiry.

Singh said it was too early to say if Wankhede will continue in his current post while the probe is on. Sources said the probe will involve recording statements of all witnesses in the Aryan Khan drug case, including the two produced by the NCB, K P Gosavi who claims to be a private investigator, and Manish Bhanushali, who is said to be a BJP worker. Wankhede's statements and those of his team members may also be recorded. The inquiry will also look into allegations of political interference levelled by NCP leader Nawab Malik.

Sail, who made the allegation against Wankhede, has claimed he faces a threat to his life from Wankhede. He said he was made to sign blank papers by the NCB. He said his boss K P Gosavi had a meeting with Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani and a man named Sam D’Souza at Lower Parel. Sail claims he overheard Gosavi discussing with D’Souza a demand for a Rs 25-crore bribe and finally settling for a payment of Rs 8 crore.

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Mumbai: NCP’s Nawab Malik on Wednesday referred to two videos related to NCB’s drugs seizure from a cruise liner, which have gone viral on October 2 and 3. In the video, one K P Gosavi is seen pulling up Aryan Khan (son of actor Shah Rukh Khan) to the NCB office, while in the second video, one Manish Bhanushali is seen forcibly escorting Arbaaz Merchant, another accused.

“Our information is Gosavi has a private business, while Bhanushali is associated with BJP. We have photographs of Bhanushali with all top BJP leaders, including ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis,” Malik said. He added, “We are keen to know what their role was in the operation. We have been told Gosavi and Bhanushali are not associated with NCB.”

Bhanushali confirmed he was present during NCB’s operation but claimed Malik had made “false allegations.” “I received information on October 1 that a drug party was to be held and I was there for updating information,” he said.

While Malik alleged “violation of procedure under NDPS Act”, Singh said in a statement, “Some allegations levelled against the organization are baseless and seen to be with malice and probable prejudice harboured in retaliation against earlier legal actions carried out by NCB. Our procedure will continue to be professionally and legally transparent and unbiased.”

On Gosavi and Bhanushali, he said, “They are associated with NCB in this operation as independent witnesses. In total, four follow-up seizures have been effected after the seizure from the cruise ship following due procedure.”

Malik said ever since they figured in the operation, the Facebook profiles of Gosavi and Bhanushali have been locked but claimed NCP had traced movements of Bhanushali. “On September 21 and 22, Bhanushali was in Gujarat to meet a few cabinet members. Incidentally, on September 21, drugs worth Rs 3,000 crore were seized at an Adani port. Again, on September 28, Bhanushali met a cabinet member in Gujarat. He was present in NCB’s operation in Mumbai on October 3. NCB and BJP must explain if Bhanushali has links with the drugs haul,” he said. Malik alleged the NCB action appeared aimed at defaming the MVA government and the film industry.

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The NCP on Wednesday produced evidence during a press meet, alleging that a false case has been registered against Aryan Khan and things are being manipulated by the NCB. Cabinet Minister and Chief Spokesperson of NCP, Nawab Malik said the two unknown men spotted escorting Aryan and Arbaz Merchant on October 2 are BJP men with direct links to senior party cadres. Responding to NCP’s allegations, the agency said the two men were independent witnesses and refused to answer any further questions regarding them.

During the press conference, Malik shared two videos in which one person is seen escorting Aryan to the NCB office, while the other was with Merchant. The person who was walking with Aryan had also clicked a selfie with him after his arrest.

Malik, who addressed the media on Wednesday, displayed a powerpoint presentation to show all the evidence he had to support his allegations. “After Aryan’s arrest, a selfie of an unknown person with him went viral and NCB said that he is not from the agency. We tracked the details of the person and found that he belongs to the BJP and claims to be a private detective,” Malik said.

Malik in his press briefing also alleged that since the Sushant Singh Rajput case, NCB has been targeting Bollywood. Even in Aryan’s case, nothing was seized at the cruise party, but planted on the accused at the NCB office. “The videos of seizure that the NCB shared with the press clearly show that they were shot in the NCB office. The entire operation was fake and carried out with the sole purpose of hogging publicity. Not a single gram of drug was seized from the arrested people. No panchnama was done. Some days ago, there was information that Shah Rukh Khan would be the next target. You are aware of the relations between the BJP and SRK,” he added.

Launching more attacks on the NCB, Malik said that after the case Wankhede spoke to the media on camera and said that 8-10 people had been arrested. “Why such a vague statement? When you’re investigating the case you should know the exact numbers. We want to know if there are 10 people because only eight have been shown as arrested. Who are the other two or have they been allowed to leave?”

The cabinet minister further said that they tracked the location of Bhanushali and found that he was in Ahmedabad in the last week of September meeting various politicians. During the same period drugs worth thousands of crores were seized at Adani port. “The agency must clarify if these two cases have any links,” said Malik.

Speaking to the press in Delhi, Bhanushali said, “I just gave information to the NCB as a responsible citizen, I was there in the capacity of a witness as requested by the NCB. My party (BJP) has nothing to do with the arrest. I don’t hold any position in the party; I am just a worker. Malik’s allegations are baseless. I will file a defamation case against him. My life is in danger, the government should provide security to me.”

When mid-day contacted Bhanushali, he said, “On October 1, I got information and shared it with the NCB immediately. An NCB officer told me that they had got similar information about the use of drugs at the cruise party. After the raid I had gone to the NCB office as a witness along with others. I had no idea that this would become a political issue. I risked my life and fulfilled my duty. Those who are taking and selling drugs should be punished.”

NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh along with Wankhede addressed the media on Wednesday. Singh read out a written statement about the details of the case and said that the allegations levelled against them were baseless. “There are several independent witnesses in the case as per the law,” Singh said. 

He further read the statement mentioning the names of a few witnesses, which includes that of Gosavi and Bhanushali, but didn't respond to the questions on how independent witnesses were escorting the accused and their connections with the ruling party. “Allegations levelled against the organisation are by people who were previously affected by NCB’s legal action. If anyone has any reservations, they can approach the court, we will respond,” he added. 

This year in January NCB arrested Malik’s son-in-law in a drugs case. “I have full faith in the judiciary and if he has done anything wrong, he should be punished, as no one is above the law. But those who are asking questions must read the chargesheet in my son-in-law’s case and ask questions to the NCB. He is out on bail and is fighting everything legally,” Malik said.

Meanwhile, responding to the allegations, Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said it wasn’t difficult to understand Malik’s pain whenever the NCB came into the picture. “Do I need to say it? We all know it,” he said.