Sameer Wankhede alleges harassment by NCB officer, strikes scheduled castes panel 

By PTI

MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has mentioned it should probe a criticism acquired by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede alleging harassment by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Deputy Director General (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh, who headed a vigilance probe that discovered irregularities within the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case.

The fee, in an announcement on Tuesday, mentioned it should probe the alleged harassment and atrocities dedicated by Singh and directed that no additional motion be taken within the matter until the criticism is pending earlier than the panel, which enjoys the powers of a civil court docket.

The NCB had instituted the vigilance probe after a number of lapses have been discovered within the inquiry into the alleged drug seizure from a cruise ship in Mumbai final October.

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested after a raid on the ship, however he was later given a ‘clear chit’ within the case.

Wankhede was the NCB Mumbai zonal director when the raid was performed on the Goa-bound ship.

“A complaint or information has been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from Wankhede and the commission has decided to investigate or inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred to it under the Constitution,” mentioned the assertion.

Wankhede, who in May was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai, additionally met the NCSC chairman and mentioned his case intimately, it mentioned.

“There appears to be discrimination and harassment of the petitioner (who belongs to a Scheduled Caste). Therefore, the NCSC has desired that no further action in the matter be taken till the pendency of the case in the commission,” mentioned the assertion.

The fee has requested the Central Board of Indirect Texas and Customs (CBIC) handy over authentic paperwork submitted by the NCB’s Special Enquiry Team (SET) for examination by the panel.

The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) is ruled by the CBIC.

The NCSC, which enjoys powers of a civil court docket, has requested the CBIC, a physique functioning beneath the Union finance ministry’s Department of Revenue, to submit info sought by it in 15 days.

When contacted by PTI, Wankhede mentioned, “I have approached the commission, but do not want to comment further as the matter is sub-judice. Singh humiliated and mocked Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. I have faced continuous harassment and exploitation for a year.”

‘The NCB inquiry into the probe of the drugs-on-cruise case has flagged a number of irregularities however discovered no proof of extortion, an official mentioned on Tuesday.

A particular investigation group of the NCB which regarded into the probe of the case submitted its vigilance report a number of weeks in the past.

It flagged “suspicious behaviour” of seven to eight officers of the NCB.

Questions have been additionally raised in regards to the intention of the officers concerned within the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case and a few individuals have been discovered to have modified their statements many instances, the official had mentioned.

There was “selective treatment” and procedural lapses through the probe, he had mentioned.

The report has beneficial motion in opposition to erring officers together with those that have been deputed to the NCB on the time, he mentioned.

MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has mentioned it should probe a criticism acquired by Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede alleging harassment by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Deputy Director General (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh, who headed a vigilance probe that discovered irregularities within the 2021 drugs-on-cruise case.

The fee, in an announcement on Tuesday, mentioned it should probe the alleged harassment and atrocities dedicated by Singh and directed that no additional motion be taken within the matter until the criticism is pending earlier than the panel, which enjoys the powers of a civil court docket.

The NCB had instituted the vigilance probe after a number of lapses have been discovered within the inquiry into the alleged drug seizure from a cruise ship in Mumbai final October.

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested after a raid on the ship, however he was later given a ‘clear chit’ within the case.

Wankhede was the NCB Mumbai zonal director when the raid was performed on the Goa-bound ship.

“A complaint or information has been received by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from Wankhede and the commission has decided to investigate or inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred to it under the Constitution,” mentioned the assertion.

Wankhede, who in May was transferred to the DG Taxpayer Service Directorate in Chennai, additionally met the NCSC chairman and mentioned his case intimately, it mentioned.

“There appears to be discrimination and harassment of the petitioner (who belongs to a Scheduled Caste). Therefore, the NCSC has desired that no further action in the matter be taken till the pendency of the case in the commission,” mentioned the assertion.

The fee has requested the Central Board of Indirect Texas and Customs (CBIC) handy over authentic paperwork submitted by the NCB’s Special Enquiry Team (SET) for examination by the panel.

The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) is ruled by the CBIC.

The NCSC, which enjoys powers of a civil court docket, has requested the CBIC, a physique functioning beneath the Union finance ministry’s Department of Revenue, to submit info sought by it in 15 days.

When contacted by PTI, Wankhede mentioned, “I have approached the commission, but do not want to comment further as the matter is sub-judice. Singh humiliated and mocked Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. I have faced continuous harassment and exploitation for a year.”

‘The NCB inquiry into the probe of the drugs-on-cruise case has flagged a number of irregularities however discovered no proof of extortion, an official mentioned on Tuesday.

A particular investigation group of the NCB which regarded into the probe of the case submitted its vigilance report a number of weeks in the past.

It flagged “suspicious behaviour” of seven to eight officers of the NCB.

Questions have been additionally raised in regards to the intention of the officers concerned within the investigation of the drugs-on-cruise case and a few individuals have been discovered to have modified their statements many instances, the official had mentioned.

There was “selective treatment” and procedural lapses through the probe, he had mentioned.

The report has beneficial motion in opposition to erring officers together with those that have been deputed to the NCB on the time, he mentioned.