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Synopsis

The Enforcement Directorate informed the Bombay High Court that it will not arrest former NCB Zonal Director and Revenue Officer Sameer Wankhede in the money laundering case registered against him.

This statement was made before the division bench of the high court comprising Justice PD Naik and Justice NR Borkar, which was hearing the petition filed by Wankhede challenging the money laundering case filed against him.

The ED has accused him of allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. 25 crores from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, in return for not framing his son in the Cordelia Drugs Cruise Ship Case.

The Enforcement Directorate initiated the case against Wankhede after the CBI filed an FIR against him.

The division bench informed Advocate Sandish Patil, representing the ED, that it would not be able to take up the petition tomorrow due to paucity of time. The bench further said it would not be able to hear the petition on Monday due to a court holiday.

The bench inquired if the ED intended to arrest Wankhede. After seeking instructions, Patil informed the high court that the ED would not arrest Wankhede until February 20.

On February 13th, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Bombay High Court that the money laundering case against Sameer Wankhede had been transferred to Delhi.

The case relates to the investigation initiated by the NCB Unit of Mumbai, which conducted a drug seizure from a cruise heading to Goa from Mumbai. The NCB arrested 20 individuals, including Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan.

The FIR filed by CBI alleged offences under sections 7 (bribery), 7A (undue advantage to influence a public servant by illegal means), and 12 (abetment) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code

Wankhede has been granted interim protection from arrest by the high court in the CBI case until his petition is heard.

Case title: Sameer Wankhede vs UOI