Sameer Wankhede's continuation with the Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai unit seems to be heading into choppy waters. As if the controversies surrounding the Aryan Khan drug haul case were not enough, the Indian Revenue Service officer may be sent back to his cadre if the government finds him ''technically'' ineligible to hold the post of zonal director, a charge he was given in NCB on a “loan basis” from the Customs Department last year.
The Department of Personnel and Training is examining whether Wankhede has become too senior to hold the post of zonal director in Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai unit.
According to government officials, Wankhede was promoted to the rank of additional commissioner a few months ago, and now that he has been promoted, he may not be ''technically'' eligible to hold the post of a zonal director or a deputy director in NCB. The charge is usually held by an SP rank officer.
Wankhede said on Monday that his visit to New Delhi was not related to the Aryan Khan case and he had not been summoned by the central anti-narcotics agency following allegations of extortion against him.
Incidentally, Wankhede was to appear before the UPSC for his formal induction into the NCB, usually a routine matter where officers are formally interviewed by a UPSC panel before the induction for a posting in any central agency.
However, in Wankhede's case, the routine affairs of bureaucracy seemed to have not only kept him occupied, but also the NCB on tenterhooks as the officer's existing charge may have to go at a time when the agency is facing embarrassment over the handling of the investigation in the Aryan Khan case.
A decision is awaited on the matter. ''If his formal induction happens, he will be able to continue in the post, else he will have to be sent out of NCB,'' said an official.
Meanwhile, the fresh trouble around Wankhede's continuation in his charge is notwithstanding the vigilance inquiry launched against him by the central agency on Monday.
On Sunday, Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the cruise drugs case, had claimed in an affidavit that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and other persons to let off Aryan Khan from the case. After the court took cognizance of the matter on Monday, the NCB launched an inquiry in the matter.
The NCB officials involved in the internal inquiry are also looking into the alleged role played by some of his family members, credentials of witnesses in the case and whether there will be conflict of interest if he continues to lead the probe team in the Aryan Khan case.
The NCB inquiry is also examining whether Wankhede has an unblemished record during his previous stints with other agencies, including the National Investigation Agency where he served for nearly four years. While some officers who worked with Wankhede said he did his job professionally, others are sceptical.
NCB DG S.N. Pradhan, who has taken note of the allegations, is aware that the federal anti-narcotics agency needs to maintain its reputation built over last several months through successful anti-narcotic operations by some of its officers that have attracted global attention and praise.
On Tuesday, a fresh letter surfaced alleging more wrongdoings in other cases being handled by Wankhede. A list of 26 cases has been noted in the letter addressed to Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik allegedly received from an unnamed NCB officer.
''These are very serious charges and they will be looked into,'' said a senior officer.
As the agency continues to face the danger of getting further embroiled in murky charges and political mudslinging, a decision is expected to be taken by the NCB within the next few days on whether Wankhede will continue in his charge till the vigilance probe is over .
At the same time, the central government's decision, on whether his appointment in NCB remains 'technically'' valid or not, will decide which way the winds blow.
