Tuesday, November 5, 2024
News

Cruiser raid: Witness claims bribe sought from SRK, NCB takes cognisance (Lead)

   SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

Mumbai | Sunday, 2021 11:15:05 PM IST
Sparking off a major controversy, a witness in the cruise ship rave party raid case on Sunday accused the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of allegedly demanding bribes from Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan to release his son Aryan Khan.

The witness, Prabhakar Sail, openly stated on various TV channels that he feared a threat to his life from none other than the NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede.

The NCB has taken cognisance of the allegations of threats and bribes and a top official said that the matter will be probed.

Sail, identified as the personal bodyguard of the so-called private detective Kiran P. Gosavi, has released a signed affidavit statement and videos pertaining to the arrest of Aryan Khan and others on October 3, a day after the ship raid (October 2).

One of the 9 witnesses listed by the NCB, among other things, Sail claimed that he was made to sign 10 blank papers by the agency and now feared for his life from Wankhede.

In the affidavit, Sail has contended that he "overheard" Gosavi and Sam D''Souza discuss a deal of Rs 24 crore which they "settled" for Rs 18 crore, of which Rs 8 crore would got to Wankhede.

He said that he saw SRK''s manager, Pooja Dadlani arrive at the NCB office after Aryan Khan''s arrest and also witnessed her talking with Gosavi and D''Souza inside her vehicle.

Sail alleged that Gosavi directed him to collect Rs 50 lakh cash from a spot near the Indiana Hotel and asked him to give the bags to D''Souza near the Trident Hotel where he counted it to find Rs 38 lakh cash.

Reacting to the allegations, NCB Deputy Director-General, South West Region Mutha Ashok Jain said that Wankhede has "categorically denied" the allegations.

"As some of the contents of the affidavit relate to vigilance matters, I am hereby forwarding the affidavit to the Director General, NCB and requesting him for further necessary action," Jain said.

Simultaneously, chiding Sail, Jain said that since he is a witness in the case which is now sub-judice, "he needs to submit his prayer to the honourable court rather than through social media if he has anything to say".

He also said that Sail has given details about his movements and activities on October 2 (on the day of the ship raid), and "vigilance related allegations against certain persons in the affidavit which are based on overhearing" by the witness.

In the affidavit, Sail stated that Gosavi is missing and feared that the NCB officials or other people may abduct or kill him.

Gosavi, who is facing several cases, shot to focus earlier this month when Nationalist Congress Party national spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik made a series of exposes involving him (Gosavi) and other BJP-linked persons like Manish Bhanushali, in the NCB raids.

However, the BJP and NCB have rejected the charges by Malik, who has threatened to reveal more.

--IANS qn/vd

( 506 Words)

2021-10-24-17:26:02 (IANS)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS (0)
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
Won't open their mouths for 'vote-bank p...
'Done due to security reasons': BJP's Ba...
SC upholds UP Madrasa Act; 'Fazli, Kamil...
UP: Rahul Gandhi inaugurates Shaheed Cho...
'Atmosphere is in our favour': Sachin Pi...
Supreme Court upholds constitutional val...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
E2E Networks Announces Strategic Pa... 
India makes formal bid to host Olym... 
Trump return, may cost a bigger sti... 
Morgan Stanley Inaugurates State-of... 
Pakistan: Baloch activist expresses... 
MP cabinet approves 35 pc reservati... 
"Ridiculous, malicious": Union Mini... 
Basit Ali lauds Pakistan batter Bab...