by MUMBAI: A criminal case has been registered against Narcotics Control Bureau’s former Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede following a complaint by the excise department for allegedly fraudulently securing a bar licence over two decades ago.
TOI was the first to report that Wankhede, though ineligible, had secured the permit for the bar on October 27, 1997, following which the excise department initiated a probe against him. Later, NCP minister Nawab Malik had lodged a complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission and state excise commissioner alleging that it was wrong for Wankhede to hold the licence as he belongs to the All India Service, which he joined in 2006.
Significantly, when Wankhede had applied for the permit on February 13, 1997, his father, Dnyandev, was an inspector in the excise department.
Then Wankhede had admitted to TOI that he did possess the licence for a long time, but after he took up the government job, he had given the power of attorney in the name of his father, while on Sunday, he said: “The FIR has been lodged after 25 years; then I was a child. What else can I say, all is evident to the nation.”
After hearing Wankhede’s counsel on February 1, Thane collector Rajesh Narvekar had scrapped the bar licence for blatant violation of the Maharashtra Prohibition Rules.
Based on documents submitted by the excise department, Narvekar found that Wankhede had obtained the permit on October 27, 1997, through willful misrepresentation or fraud. Then Wankhede was less than 18 years of age against the required age of 21. In his application, Wankhede did not mention his date of birth, but merely submitted that he is an adult.
On Saturday, Thane excise inspector Satyawan Shankar Gogawale submitted a complaint to Kopri police, following which an offence was registered against Wankhede under the Indian Penal Code sections 181 (false statement on oath before a public servant), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 420 (cheating), 465 (punishment for forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document).
Wankhede, who was on deputation with NCB, was repatriated to his parent department, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, on completion of tenure in January.
TOI was the first to report that Wankhede, though ineligible, had secured the permit for the bar on October 27, 1997, following which the excise department initiated a probe against him. Later, NCP minister Nawab Malik had lodged a complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission and state excise commissioner alleging that it was wrong for Wankhede to hold the licence as he belongs to the All India Service, which he joined in 2006.
Significantly, when Wankhede had applied for the permit on February 13, 1997, his father, Dnyandev, was an inspector in the excise department.
Then Wankhede had admitted to TOI that he did possess the licence for a long time, but after he took up the government job, he had given the power of attorney in the name of his father, while on Sunday, he said: “The FIR has been lodged after 25 years; then I was a child. What else can I say, all is evident to the nation.”
After hearing Wankhede’s counsel on February 1, Thane collector Rajesh Narvekar had scrapped the bar licence for blatant violation of the Maharashtra Prohibition Rules.
Based on documents submitted by the excise department, Narvekar found that Wankhede had obtained the permit on October 27, 1997, through willful misrepresentation or fraud. Then Wankhede was less than 18 years of age against the required age of 21. In his application, Wankhede did not mention his date of birth, but merely submitted that he is an adult.
On Saturday, Thane excise inspector Satyawan Shankar Gogawale submitted a complaint to Kopri police, following which an offence was registered against Wankhede under the Indian Penal Code sections 181 (false statement on oath before a public servant), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 420 (cheating), 465 (punishment for forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document).
Wankhede, who was on deputation with NCB, was repatriated to his parent department, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, on completion of tenure in January.
