Sameer Wankhede has gone to the Bombay High Court against the CBI’s investigation into the Aryan Khan case seeking Rs 25 crore from Sameer Wankhede. Justice Abhay Ahuja and Justice MM Sathe are hearing his petition here. In this case, the CBI has said that it has not yet been able to file an affidavit regarding 17a of the PC Act. NCB has filed an affidavit on 17a. In this case, the investigating agency wants more time but wants to end the interim relief from arrest. CBI’s counsel says that evidence can be tampered with due to interim relief.
On the other hand, after these arguments of CBI, Sameer Wankhede’s lawyer says that he can give in writing that there will be no tampering with the evidence. Along with this, the judge objected to the WhatsApp chat being leaked to the media. To which Sameer Wankhede’s lawyer said that he has not gone to the media. Let us tell you that the WhatsApp chat is only part of the petition. Sameer Wankhede’s lawyer told the court that the investigation of this case is going on from 25 October 2021.
On the other hand, on the application of WhatsApp chat in the petition, it has been said on behalf of Sameer Wankhede that I have been accused of asking money from someone. That’s why chats have been set up with that person. Along with this, all the action during that time was being done in the knowledge of the senior officers of the agency, that is why those chats have also been set up. His lawyer said that the CBI called on May 18, after which we went to the Delhi High Court. Delhi High Court said that you go to Bombay High Court. We reached Bombay High Court on 19th. Called on Saturday, Sunday, where I also went. I have been called on Wednesday, I will go again.
Wankhede’s lawyer said in the court that NCB’s affidavit says that we have got permission for investigation on 11 May 2023. It states that we had sought permission from the MHA for investigation 21 days prior to May 11. Permission was granted on 11 May. On the other hand, CAT has already ordered that on the basis of these allegations, no action should be taken at Wankhede without hearing them, even the department should not take any action. Wankhede’s lawyer has said in the court that this is an interdepartmental rivalry.
And when Wankhede’s lawyer said in the court that during the action Aryan Khan’s father Shah Rukh Khan praised him and called him an upright officer. On this, the CBI counsel said that these chats are from the time when the accused was arrested. These chats were done as a father. Today Wankhede is telling these chats as a certificate of his innocence. On which the judge said that today debate on whether they need to be arrested or not. After which the CBI said that it is the decision of the IO to arrest or not.
On this, the bench said that are you challenging the Friday order of this court? The judge said that this is what you want, not that when you call, they come for investigation and do not tamper with the evidence. What is the problem if you give it in writing? To which the CBI counsel said that but cannot prejudice the authority of the IO. At the same time, the NCB’s lawyer said that the investigation of SET was not going on under the PC Act. 17A comes into the picture when investigation has to be done under the PC Act. At the same time, CBI has asked for two weeks time to file its reply.
After hearing all the parties, the bench of Justice Abhay Ahuja and Justice MM Sathe said that now the next hearing in this case will be on June 8 and CBI should file reply by June 3 and Wankhede’s lawyer should file counter by June 8. At the same time, the court has extended the arrest protection of Sameer Wankhede till the next date and the court said that during this time Wankhede cannot go to the media. They will have to give an undertaking about this and whenever the investigating agency calls them, they will have to join the investigation.
