Sameer Wankhede runs liquor shop, hid info from department: Nawab Malik

Mumbai: In his latest attack against Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik on Friday alleged that the latter is running a liquor bar in Navi Mumbai which violates the DoPT rules.

He said that Wankhede holds a hotel liquor licence since 1997-98 and runs a bar in Navi Mumbai. He added that the licence was issued when he was a minor in 1997-98, which again is illegal. "It was issued when his father Dnyandeo Wankhede was in the state excise department. He concealed this information while joining the central government services. Only in 2017, Wankhede declared that he owns the inherited property along with his father," he alleged.

"As per the laws, minors cannot be issued such liquor bar licences, since Sameer Wankhede was only around 17 years 10 months old at that time. This is a big fraud perpetrated by his father. The place, Sadguru Restro Bar is still running in Vashi (Navi Mumbai). The licence has been continuously renewed, without fail and is currently valid till 2022," Malik said.

Moreover, he contended that for many years, Sameer Wankhede allegedly suppressed this fact from the Centre in the mandatory statement of annual assets of all service officers till around 2017.

At that time, it was shown as a bequeathed 'rented property', jointly with his father Dnyandev, where a 'hotel' is running from which the annual rental income is Rs 240,000 for the huge 1,600 sq. feet premises, claimed as worth only Rs 1 crore, the NCP leader pointed out.

"Wankhede has clearly flouted central service rules that prohibit any officers from running businesses. I am filing complaints with the DoPT, Vigilance Commission and the IT Department as he belongs to the IRS cadre. He has no right to continue in service," Malik asserted.

The Wankhedes have defended themselves saying that they have informed the government that the property was willed by the late wife of Dnyandev and there was no wrongdoings about it.

The NCP strongman urged the Centre and Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party to "stop protecting" Wankhede who has committed grave offences and will "definitely lose his job and go to jail".

Malik warned Wankhede will face the consequence of his extortion bid in the 'fraudulent' Cordelia Cruise ship raid of October 2, producing fake caste certificates to get admission to college, and then to bag the IRS job depriving a deserving Dalit candidate, and running a liquor bar flouting the Central Government's service rules.