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This is an archive article published on May 27, 2022

As Aryan Khan case falls, MVA leaders rally behind Nawab Malik: ‘Truth wins’

In the days following the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh's son, Nawab Malik had waged literally a one-man campaign against NCB Mumbai Zone in-charge Sameer Wankhede.

Malik's opponents had countered that his press conferences were prompted by the NCB's case against his son-in-law Sameer Khan, over alleged drug recovery. (Express photo by Ashish Kale/File)Malik's opponents had countered that his press conferences were prompted by the NCB's case against his son-in-law Sameer Khan, over alleged drug recovery. (Express photo by Ashish Kale/File)

“Truth always wins” is how former NCP minister Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik Shaikh received the news of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chargesheet giving a clean chit to Aryan Khan.

In the days following the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh’s son, Nawab Malik had waged literally a one-man campaign against NCB Mumbai Zone in-charge Sameer Wankhede, with his revelations against the way the probe was handled punching holes into the case against Aryan.

Malik subsequently was held on charges by the Enforcement Directorate and has been in jail since February 23.

On Friday, as the NCB admitted there was no case against Aryan, the NCP and its allies Congress and Shiv Sena rallied behind Malik. “It is clear today that Nawab Malik’s allegations were true. Aryan Khan was kept in custody even though no drugs were found in his possession. Now Aryan Khan’s name is not even in the NCB chargesheet. NCB official Sameer Wankhede has worked to discredit Mumbai and Maharashtra along with Bollywood,” Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said.

“Nawab Malik ji made serious allegations on the style of working of Sameer Wankhede, thereby drawing the ire of some powerful people in Delhi. Today he is paying the price for speaking the truth,” NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said.

Shiv Sena leader and spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “The truth has come out. An attempt to destroy the life of a young man was done for the sake of publicity and due to political pressure. To have such an officer (Wankhede) in any department is dangerous for the government and the country.’’

Announcing that Aryan and five others were not being chargesheeted as there was no evidence against them, NCB DG S N Pradhan said: “There were shortcomings in the investigations (conducted by then Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede). There was no corroborative physical evidence to support the allegations.” Sources said the government was also contemplating action against Wankhede.

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NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik gets taken to court, from the ED office in Mumbai. (PTI Photo/File)

In his series of press conferences against Wankhede, Malik too had raised serious questions about due process in the NCB’s probe into the Cordelia cruise ship case on October 2, 2021, leading to the arrest of Aryan. Eventually, 19 people were arrested in connection with the raid. Aryan spent more than 20 days in jail before he got bail.

Malik’s opponents had countered that his press conferences were prompted by the NCB’s case against his son-in-law Sameer Khan, over alleged drug recovery. Sameer Khan spent nine months in jail before he was granted bail in end-September, with the court saying that there was no case for illicit drug trafficking and conspiracy against him.

Among Malik’s revelations were that the men who accompanied the NCB during the raid on Cordelia cruise ship were associated with the BJP, that its three official witnesses had been used multiple times by it, and that they also had links to Wankhede himself. The NCB had been forced to issue a clarification defending itself and the integrity of the investigation. On October 24, a witness had come forward to claim that NCB officials had made him sign 10 blank sheets of paper. Malik had also put out Wankhede’s birth certificate on Twitter to suggest that he had fudged his details to avail of the Scheduled Caste quota. Wankhede’s caste information might also be a matter of probe now.

With the Maharashtra government treading with care, the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena had largely steered clear of Malik at the time. He was slapped with a defamation suit by the Wankhede family, and later, after allegations by former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis against him, arrested by the ED.

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BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar sought to argue on Friday that the NCB chargesheet was actually proof that “the Narendra Modi government and their agencies always act fairly and truth always prevails”. He added: “Those who are welcoming the clean chit by the NCB should now agree that Nawab Malik is prima facie guilty.’’

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

 

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