Shah Rukh Khan Requested Sameer Wankhede to Get Aryan Khan Out of Jail: The Full Chat Revealed
Shah Rukh Khan, one of the most popular and influential actors in Bollywood, was in a desperate situation when his son Aryan Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in October 2021 for allegedly possessing and consuming drugs on a cruise ship. Aryan Khan spent 21 days in jail before he was granted bail by the Bombay High Court.
The case took a dramatic turn when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Sameer Wankhede, the former NCB Mumbai zone chief who led the raid and arrested Aryan Khan, on charges of extortion and corruption. The CBI alleged that Wankhede and his associates demanded Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan to let his son go free, and threatened to frame him in a narcotics case otherwise.
The Chats Between Shah Rukh Khan and Sameer Wankhede
In his defense, Wankhede filed a plea in the Bombay High Court, seeking protection from any coercive action by the CBI. He also attached screenshots of his alleged conversation with Shah Rukh Khan, wherein the actor is seen begging him to spare his son.
The following is a transcript of the chat messages between Shah Rukh Khan and Sameer Wankhede, as revealed by Wankhede in his plea:
The CBI’s Case Against Sameer Wankhede
The CBI registered the FIR against Wankhede based on a complaint by Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the NCB’s case against Aryan Khan. Sail alleged that he overheard a conversation between Wankhede’s associate Kiran Gosavi and another person named Sam D’Souza, wherein they discussed demanding Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan and settling for Rs 18 crore.
Sail also claimed that he was forced to sign some blank papers by Gosavi and Wankhede, which were later used as panchnama (witness statement) in the NCB’s case. He said that he did not see any drugs being recovered from Aryan Khan or anyone else on the cruise ship.
The CBI raided Wankhede’s residence and office on May 19, 2023, and seized some documents and electronic devices. The agency also questioned Wankhede for several hours.
Wankhede denied all the allegations against him and said that he was being targeted for doing his duty honestly. He said that he had no personal or professional enmity with Shah Rukh Khan or his son and that he never demanded any money from them. He also said that he had followed all the due procedures and protocols while conducting the raid and arresting Aryan Khan.
The Bombay High Court’s Order
On May 20, 2023, the Bombay High Court heard Wankhede’s plea and directed the CBI to not take any coercive action against him till May 22, 2023. The court also asked the CBI to file its reply to Wankhede’s plea by then.
The court observed that there were serious allegations against Wankhede, but also noted that he was an officer with an impeccable service record. The court said that it would balance the interests of both sides while deciding on the matter.
The court also asked Wankhede to cooperate with the CBI’s investigation and not to influence any witnesses or tamper with any evidence.
The case has generated a lot of public interest and media attention, as it involves one of the biggest stars of Bollywood and a high-profile officer of the NCB. The outcome of the case may have far-reaching implications for both parties, as well as for the credibility of the agencies involved.
