NCP leader and senior Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has claimed that Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede was the kingpin of the drugs racket running in Mumbai. Addressing the media here today morning, Malik claimed that former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was behind the transfer of Sameer Wankhede to the NCB.
"Sameer Wankhede is the kingpin who is running a drug racket in Mumbai...He was appointed by (Devendra) Fadnavis," Malik said.
Malik also posted a photo of alleged drug peddler Jaideep Rana with Amruta Fadnavis (wife of Devendra Fadnavis) and said that he has links with the former Chief Minister.
"One Jaydeep Rana currently in jail in connection with a drug trafficking case has relations with former CM Devendra Fadnavis. He was the financial head of the famous River song by former CM's wife Amruta Fadnavis," he said, adding that the drug business in the state grew under Fadnavis' tenure between November 2014 and October 2018.
"This is a matter relating to the illegal drugs business in Maharashtra. I demand CBI or judicial enquiry in this issue," the Minister said.
Malik also stood by his claims that Sameer Wankhede was a Muslim by birth and had produced a bogus certificate to get a government job. He then alleged that Arun Halder, vice chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), gave a clean chit to NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede without conducting an investigation, adding that he will approach the President against Haldar.
For the past several days, Malik has been targeting Wankhede, who had led a raid on a cruise ship in Mumbai earlier this month during which drugs were recovered. The minister has repeatedly claimed that the entire operation on the cruise ship on October 2, during which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was held among others, was "fake". Wankhede had earlier refuted the minister's allegations against him.
Nawab Malik's allegations baseless: Fadnavis
Fadnavis, who headed the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government in Maharashtra, rubbished Nawab Malik's allegations as baseless. Fadnavis said that those who have relations with the Underworld should not speak about others.
"I will present evidence of Nawab Malik's relations with the Underworld. I am waiting for Diwali to pass," he told reporters.
READ MORE: 'Had Balasaheb been alive...': Sameer Wankhede's wife seeks support from Uddhav Thackeray
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