Ex-NCB officer, Sameer Wankhede talks about Aryan Khan case, says, ‘I would rather think it as one of the smallest cases of my career’

Sameer Wankhede talking about Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan

October 2021 marked a challenging period for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan when his son, Aryan Khan, became embroiled in a high-profile investigation into an alleged international drug network. Aryan was detained and spent approximately 25 days in Mumbai Central Prison. Despite multiple bail pleas being rejected, he was finally granted bail on October 28, 2021.

In May 2022, Aryan was officially exonerated of all charges. While Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan remained at the center of media attention, another prominent figure in the case was Sameer Wankhede, the Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, who led the investigation.

Sameer Wankhede, accused of financial and procedural irregularities, has now addressed the controversy, dismissing the significance of the case and those involved.

In an interview with YouTuber Gaurav Thakur, the IRS officer responded to allegations that he specifically targets celebrities. He remarked, “I don’t recognize the term ‘celebrity’ in either my personal or professional life. While some perceive me as someone who focuses solely on high-profile individuals, that’s far from true. I’ve handled over 3,400 cases, but those involving ordinary individuals don’t grab headlines because they lack the public appeal or fame to make news. I simply performed my duty. If certain cases become sensationalized, that’s not something within my control.”

Commenting on the Shah Rukh Khan case, Sameer Wankhede downplayed its significance, stating it was far from being a major issue in his career. He remarked, “I don’t agree that it is the ‘elephant in the room,’ I would rather think it as one of the smallest cases of my career–a microorganism in the room. I don’t want to give it so much importance, or waste my time talking about it.” He emphasized that the matter is currently under judicial consideration and refrained from making further comments, citing his commitment to the court. “I just want to say, neither am I scared of anything, nor am I hiding anything. The only reason I avoid talking about it is because I have given an affidavit in the court that I will not speak about the case. There is a lot to share and talk, but there is a code of conduct, due to which I can’t discuss. Once the court will pass its verdict, I will surely speak about it in detail.”

Following the 2021 incident and Aryan Khan’s acquittal in 2022, Shah Rukh Khan made a powerful comeback in 2023 with two major films, Pathaan and Jawan. A dialogue from Jawan gained widespread attention and was speculated to be a subtle jab at the officer involved in Aryan’s case. The line, “Bete ko hath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar (Before touching the son, deal with the father),” became a talking point and dominated headlines.

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In response to the speculation, Sameer Wankhede dismissed the matter, saying, “I don’t want to take names and make them famous.” Addressing the leaked chats, he reiterated, “As far as the leaked chats are concerned, I will repeat myself that I am not allowed to comment on it.” He also criticized the dialogue allegedly targeting him, stating, “Whatever dialogue is seemingly used against me… with the words, baap, beta, they sound extremely cheap and third rated. We don’t use such words in a cultured society. These are simply roadside dialogues. I don’t expect myself to give importance to such things and react.”

On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan have lent their voices for the hindi dubbed film,  Musafa.