Advocate Khushbu Jain reacts to allegations against former-NCB Chief Sameer Wankhede in Aryan Khan case: Acts of lawlessness by custodians of law are unacceptable; must be dealt with an iron hand | Hindi Movie News

Former NCB Chief Sameer Wankhede is caught in a controversy as an SET report from the NCB alleged corruption and mismanagement in the drugs-on-cruise case where Shah Rukh Khan‘s son Aryan Khan was an accused. There have been multiple allegations and deliberations in the case filed against Sameer Wankhede. The CBI is investigating the accusations against Wankhede and as a rebuttal, the former NCB Chief filed a plea in Bombay HC presenting sms chats with SRK, where the ‘Pathaan’ star is allegedly pleading Wankhede to let his son off the hook.
The legal case has become complex with multiple allegations being raised from the NCB, CBI and Wankhede. ETimes reached out to Supreme Court Advocate Khushbu Jain to record her views on the legal proceedings against Sameer Wankhede and his replies to all accusations. Jain stated, “Failure in following proper protocols, deliberate implications of individuals in the list of accused, allegation of asking for a bribe has betrayed the public trust placed in the NCB.”

Perhaps that is why the NCB has filed charges against Sameer Wankhede whose tenure as the Bureau chief ended in December 2021. Jain further added, “Ensuring that there is no room for abuse of power or the creation of a culture of impunity within law enforcement agencies, the officer involved should be subject to the same legal standards and processes as any other citizen and the same is observed in the case of former Mumbai zone chief Sameer Wankhede wherein NCB’s special inquiry team (SET) was set up to probe his role and it appears that the SET has found irregularities and violations during his tenure. The investigating agency said the assets of Sameer Wankhede were not proportionate to his known sources of income and he wasn’t able to justify the expenses that he made during his foreign visits.”
As part of his petition filed in the Bombay HC, Wankhede has reproduced sms chats that he allegedly exchanged with SRK. To this, Jain explained, “Producing screenshot of purported chat in Hon’ble Bombay High Court as evidence by Sameer Wankhede for quashing the FIR against him by the CBI also raises a series of questions:
Whether an officer is permitted to have continuous chat with the accused’s family and give assurances?
Whether this is violating the conduct rules?
Whether such screenshots of chat can be relied upon as its content needs to be proved during the trial by evidence in chief and cross-examination?
Whether such chat should have formed part of his statement with the vigilance team investigating his misconduct?”
Jain also revealed that in most cases, mobile chats are not reliable evidence in Court. She explained, “Reliability of screenshots of chat as admissible electronic evidence before the Court is a challenge primarily because they can be altered or wholly created using digital editing tools or there can be use of malicious software.”

Jain also made it clear that no agent of law should be given unfair protection. She added, “Though it is important to recognise that law enforcement officers have specific responsibilities and duties that may require certain legal protections and procedural considerations. However, these protections should not be used to shield them from accountability when they engage in unlawful activities.”

Apart from his reputation being tarnished, Aryan Khan was kept in jail for almost a month and eight months later the NCB admitted that no evidence was found implicating him and there were irregularities in the initial probe. Jain added, “Aryan Khan was defamed and had to undergo such trauma for no fault of his but the officers incharge. Hence, any acts of lawlessness by those who are the custodians of law are unacceptable and must be dealt with an iron hand to maintain public confidence in the legal system.”