The case pertains to the Rs 25-crore bribe allegedly demanded by Sameer Wankhede, among other accused, from the families of Aryan Khan and others who were arrested in the 2021 Cordelia drug bust case. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has set aside an order that transferred Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede, who arrested actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a drugs case while serving in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), from Mumbai to Chennai.
On May 30, 2022, Wankhede was transferred from his posting at the Directorate General of Analytical Risk Management (DGARM) in Mumbai to the Directorate General of Taxpayers Services (DGTS) in Chennai, following which the officer challenged the transfer order, alleging bias.
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Observing that the Union finance ministry and the Central Board for Direct Taxes, which opposed his plea, were “biased towards the applicant,” the bench of CAT Chairman Ranjit More and Member Rajinder Kashyap last month quashed and set aside the transfer order.
As per the plea filed by Wankhede, after his tenure at the NCB, where he was involved in the arrests of NCP leader Nawab Malik’s son-in-law and Aryan Khan in connection with narcotics cases, he was transferred from the NCB to the DGARM office in Mumbai, which he joined on January 4, 2022. Five months later, however, on May 30, he was transferred to the DGTS office in Chennai, where he took charge.
Wankhede then made representations to the government that he be transferred back to Mumbai, citing various threats that he and his family had received. After he was not transferred back, Wankhede approached the CAT against the transfer order.
Wankhede alleged that his transfer to Chennai was an “offshoot” of allegations made against him during his tenure at the NCB. He further said the NCB’s Special Enquiry Team set up to probe the allegations had not given him an opportunity to defend himself, a fact upheld by higher courts.
During the hearing, the government submitted that the 2008-batch IRS officer had been posted only in Mumbai since he was in service and had never worked outside Mumbai and that there had been allegations of illegal activities against him.
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The bench, however, observed that the officer had been loaned out to agencies during his tenure when he had worked outside the city, had a good service record and had consistently received good ratings from his seniors. The bench then quashed the order that transferred him to Chennai, meaning he would return to his posting at the DGARM in Mumbai.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
Experience & Authority
Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field.
Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus.
Key Beats:
Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force.
Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict.
Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations.
Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
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