Aryan Khan case: Vigilance team submits report, finds probe against Khan to be 'selective'

A vigilance probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has submitted its report and recommended departmental action against seven officers who were part of the team that investigated the Cordelian drug bust case, sources in the know told ET.

In October, 2021, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan was arrested in the said matter, however earlier in March this year, a special investigation team (SIT) found that the investigation officer in the case was “motivated to somehow implicate Khan in the case” while dropping the charges against him.

These sources added that the vigilance team has found department and vigilance issues against certain officers of the Mumbai-based team that carried out the investigation in the drug case related to Khan. “They were selective in their decision and had a motivated approach in the matter,” said a senior official privy to the development.


When reached for a comment, Deputy Director General, Gyaneshwar Singh confirmed to ET that he had submitted his report but refused to elaborate further. Post the drug bust and the controversy surrounding it, many of them raised by NCP leader Nawab Malik, NCB had asked Singh to conduct a vigilance inquiry in the matter and submit a report to DG, NCB.

Sources further added that while the team headed by Singh received complaints in 30 cases probed by the Mumbai team, they found that at least in three cases including the one against Khan the probe team failed to comply with the standards of investigation and might have even ‘compromised’ these cases ‘owing to a selective approach’.

IRS officer Sameer Wankhede was the zonal director incharge of Mumbai NCB.

The 3000-page chargesheet comprises of statements of 65 witnesses and has even scrutinised the bank details and other financial details of the family members and the associates of the officers under scanner. “While most of the officers are from the department, the report will also be shared with the competent authority for taking action against those who are currently not serving with the department,” the official added.

Khan along with his friend Arbaz Merchant and a model Munmun Dhamecha were arrested on October 3, 2021 post the raids carried out by the NCB on a luxury cruise liner bound for Goa off the Mumbai coast. According to the arrest memo, the accused have been booked in connection with the seizure of 13 gms of cocaine, 5 gms of MD, 21 gms of charas and 22 pills of MDMA and Rs 1.33 lakh in cash.

Subsequently in October of that year Khan was released on bail by the Bombay High Court.

In March, this year NCB filed its chargesheet in a special Mumbai court, naming 14 of the 20 people who were accused in the case while dropping charges against Khan and five others.

No physical or circumstantial evidence was found against the six including Khan, who were excluded from the chargesheet, NCB director general SN Pradhan had said then. Khan was also not a part of any international drug cartel, nor was there any conspiracy, he had added..

The said inquiry had also questioned the initial defence given by the Mumbai NCB team that they were “not aware” of Khan boarding the cruise ship which they were going to raid. Sources said the search operation ensued after the NCB-Mumbai received “reliable information” that Khan and others were going to be on the ship. “Sameer Wankhede proceeded with his team to the Green Gate at Ballard Pier and intercepted Khan and his friend, Arbaaz Merchant,” added another official.

Subsequently in May, Wankhede, who was posted at the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management in Mumbai, was transferred with immediate effect. DGTS is considered to be a side posting, people in the know said.