Cruise drug bust bribery case: Will conclude probe against Wankhede within 3 months, CBI tells HC

The CBI had filed the FIR based on the report of a special enquiry team (SET), which was formed to probe the alleged procedural lapses by NCB officials, including Wankhede.

The central agency made a statement before the bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Rajesh S Patil in response to the plea by Wankhede challenging CBI FIR in the case.

Wankhede’s lawyer contended that the probe had been stalled for over two years and it was affecting his client’s career, and his promotion was on hold.

The lawyer said that Wankhede can approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) seeking relief if the court admits the plea. The bench questioned CBI as to when it will complete the investigation, which was delayed.

Advocate Kuldeep Patil, appearing for CBI, submitted that the probe will be concluded within three months. The court then extended earlier interim protection from arrest granted to Wankhede till further orders.

The HC, however, clarified that CBI may proceed with the filing of chargesheet after obtaining the court’s approval for the same.

Wankhede had claimed that the said SET had sought to give a clean chit to Aryan Khan by “suppressing material information and evidence in violation of legal provisions,” and FIR registered on SET’s report was motivated and it should be quashed and set aside. The HC will hear the plea in due course.