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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has issued notice in a petition filed by former NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede seeking the transfer of the investigation in a case registered against NCP leader Nawab Malik to an independent agency, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A division bench of the high court comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan asked the Goregaon Police to appraise the court about the investigation within 2 weeks and also asked the concerned officer to remain present in the court on the next date.

Wankhede filed a complaint in August 2022 with the Goregaon Police under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging that Malik made remarks about his caste during interviews and on social media.

He further claimed that Malik launched a campaign to defame him and his family following the arrest of Malik’s son-in-law, Sameer Khan, in a drug case in 2021.

Sameer Wankhede submitted that he had filed a complaint with the Scheduled Caste Commission regarding the remarks made against him by Nawab Malik.

Additionally, he initiated a defamation suit against Malik, which resulted in a cease and desist order from the court, directing Malik not to make further remarks against him.

Wankhede submitted that despite his complaint, the Goregaon Police neither conducted any investigation nor filed a chargesheet against Malik.

“..it is crystal clear that the Goregaon Police Personnel have adopted a lackadaisical, unethical, objectionable, contemptuous and abhorrent approach in the investigation of the subject CR. Hence, it is necessary that the investigation in the present CR be transferred an to Independent Investigating Agency and/or A Court monitored investigation be carried out so as to ensure that the investigation is conducted irnpartially and without any bias in this subject,” the plea reads.