NCB searches BJP's move to create fear, shift film industry to UP: Malik

Maharashtra skill development minister Nawab Malik has alleged that BJP was behind searches conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau on film personalities. The aim was to create fear and ensure that the film industry moved to Uttar Pradesh, he alleged. Malik also alleged that Kiran Gosavi, the controversial witness in the cruise case with a criminal record, had business relationship with a BJP leader.

"To defame the Maharashtra government, a conspiracy was created through (NCB zonal director) Sameer Wankhede... There is an attempt to create fear and panic and take the film industry to Uttar Pradesh. They want to turn Bollywood into UPwood. This will, however, never happen," Malik alleged. He said that he would expose Wankhede's 'BJP connection'. Close aides of Maharashtra BJP leaders have been meeting Wankhede and his family in the last few days, he said. Gosavi, who has several cases against him and has been arrested by police in Pune for 'cheating', also has BJP connections, he alleged. Gosavi was a director in a BJP leader's firm, he alleged. "I have more evidence, which once revealed, will leave all these people (Wankhede and BJP) embarrassed," Malik said. More disclosures will be made in the upcoming winter session of the Maharashtra assembly, he said. Incidentally, a legislator cannot be tried by a court of law for utterances or allegations made in a legislature.

Malik refuted allegations of Wankhede's spouse Kranti Redkar. "I have not said anything about her. I have only spoken about Sameer Wankhede's work in the NCB and caste certificate," Malik said.


"I am not saying that the state machinery will be misused; Wankhede will be behind bars because he claimed he was a member of the Scheduled Caste community and submitted a fake caste certificate," he alleged.