NCB using drugs cases to extort film circle after SSR death, says Nawab Malik

Mumbai: Taking the fight to the Narcotics Control Bureau once again, Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik alleged that the NCB was being used to 'extort' the film fraternity and keep them in fear of reprisal, especially since the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. This was playing out now in the drugs case involving Aryan Khan as well he said. Even the case against Rhea Chakraborty was cooked up by the NCB, Malik added

"A special officer was brought in to the NCB. The suicide case was handed over to the CBI, but the mystery over his suicide or murder remains unresolved. But, after that, the NCB started playing games with the film industry," Mr Malik claimed, alleging that NCB senior investigator Sameer Wankhede was spotted in the Maldives last year where many celebrities had also gone on holiday. The purpose of Wankhede going to the Maldives was to extort or threaten them and he would release photos showing the same, the minister said.

Earlier, Malik had released photos of Wankhede's sister Jasmin Wankhede with Fletcher Patel, one of the key witnesses in the Cordelia drugs case, alleging that the investigator was recruiting friends as witnesses. The film fraternity was being rounded up and threatened with drugs cases to allow Wankhede's wife - an actress in Marathi films - access into Bollywood Malik said.

Minister Malik had also claimed his own son-in-law Sameer Khan and two others had been 'framed' by the NCB in connection with a narcotics case in January this year. A detailed bail order passed by the special NDPS court has observed that no case for illicit drug trafficking and conspiracy was made out.