Mumbai Drug Case: NCB's Sameer Wankhede refutes Nawab Malik's claims

Pakistan will remain on FATF's 'grey' list as it has failed for deficiencies in its counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering. Pakistan has taken steps but needs to further demonstrate, the FAFT said.

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede spoke to Republic and rubbished allegations of extortion levelled by NCP Leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik. Nawab Malik had levelled charges of extortion on Sameer Wankhede and alleged that he visited Dubai and Maldives in connection with the extortion.

To this, Sameer Wankhede said he has never visited Dubai while he affirmed that visited the Maldives with his own salary after taking due permissions from the competent authority.

After Sameer Wankhede's interview with Republic, Nawab Malik posted pictures of Sameer Wankhede on Twitter, alleging it to be of Sameer Wankhede in Dubai.

Sameer Wankhede responded to Nawab Malik with a press conference, saying that his photos posted on Twitter are of a Mumbai hotel and not from Dubai. Sameer Wankhede further said that it can be verified from airport authorities that he has not visited Dubai.

NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede is said to serve a legal notice to Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and NCP senior leader Nawab Malik. 

Wankhede said, "Allegations levelled against me are false and baseless", while further adding, "I never went to Maldives or Dubai with my sister -Yasmeen Wankhede. I never went to Dubai post joining the service. I went to the Maldives on my expenses and at that time I was on official leave."

After being interrogated for 2 hours on Thursday, Ananya Panday has been called again on Friday at 11 AM for further interrogation. NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede conducted the interrogation of Ananya Panday in the drugs probe, over her chats with Aryan Khan.

Ananya Panday has left the NCB office after being interrogated by NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede over her chats with Aryan Khan in the drugs probe. She had arrived at the NCB Office post 4 PM. She was summoned by NCB to appear at NCB office at 2 PM.

As Central agencies and Mumbai police hunt ex-Mumbai Commissioner Param Bir Singh, city police have arrested a 42-year-old 'hawala' operator from Gujarat in connection with an extortion case an official said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Alpesh Patel, was apprehended on Tuesday by a team of the Mumbai Police's crime branch unit-11 from Mehsana in Gujarat, he said. Param Bir Singh, current Director-General of Maharashtra Home Guard, has been booked under several extortion cases.

As the Mumbai drug probe intensifies, Ananya Panday is being interrogated by NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede. Her chats with Aryan Khan are under scanner in the drug probe.

Judicial Aryan Khan and eight others accused in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case have been extended till October 30 by Magistrate Court. The judicial custody of all accused including Aryan Khan was to end on Thursday, October 21, which has been extended by 9 more days.

On Wednesday, special NDPS Court had rejected Aryan's bail application following which his legal team moved Bombay High Court. The High Court has set the matter for hearing on October 26.

Bollywood actor Ananya Panday reaches the NCB office, accompanied by her father Chunky Panday. She has arrived two hours late as she was summoned by NCB to appear at 2 PM. Her chats with Aryan Khan are under the scanner of NCB in the drugs probe.

The NCB is looking into chats of Aryan Khan and Ananya Panday, sources informed Republic Media Network. Their electronic devices have been seized.

According to Republic Media Network, two more Bollywood stars are under the NCB scanner. The anti-drug agency is also going through WhatsApp conversations between Aryan Khan and other stars. The NCB has shortlisted four locations where the searches will be carried out. The agency will again question drug peddlers connected to the accused.

The NCB has served notice to SRK’s Manager Pooja Dadlani asking her to provide information regarding Aryan Khan’s medical history. In addition, the anti-drug agency has also sought some documents related to Aryan’s education. This comes after the NCB officials earlier visited Shah Rukh Khan's residence 'Mannat'. 

On Thursday, the Supreme Court asked the farmers' unions to file their reply in 3 weeks' time to a Noida resident's plea seeking an end to the road blockade. An SC bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul was hearing a plea which complained that she took two hours to reach her workplace in Delhi instead of 20 minutes due to the road blockade. She argued before the court that the roads were not cleared despite various directions passed by the SC.

At the outset, the bench pointed out that only two farm unions have appeared before the court. Justice Kaul observed, "Ultimately some solution has to be found. I’m not averse to their right to protest even when legal challenge is pending. Roads cannot be blocked". In response, senior advocate Dushyant Dave asserted, "Roads aren’t blocked. They are blocked thanks to the Police. After stopping us, BJP had a rally at Ramlila Maidan. Why be selective? They allow it"!

Narcotics Control Bureau officials were spotted at Shah Rukh Khan's residence in Mumbai on Thursday. Officers of the investigating agency were seen arriving at the residence, Mannat at Bandstand, Bandra with some documents in their hands. The move came amid the actor's son Aryan Khan being in prison after being arrested in the Mumbai cruise drugs bust case.

No raids were conduced at Mannat, it has emerged that the officials had gone to the venue with regards to some documentation work. Officials confirmed that the visit was only to collect documents.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday raided Bollywood Actor Ananya Panday's Pali Hill residence in Mumbai as the investigation continues in the drugs case. Following the raids, the actor has also been summoned by the anti-drug agency. Sources have also informed that more names from Bollywood are under the scanner. The NCB has widened its investigation and is carrying out the probe with more scrutiny after it recently busted a high-profile cruise party in Mumbai. 

Amid soaring tensions with Beijing, top American diplomat Nicholas Burns, who has been nominated by United States President Joe Biden has stated that China has been an aggressor against India along the Himalayan border. Burns, who has been nominated by Biden as his next envoy to Beijing has asserted that the US should hold the Chinese government accountable for 'failing to play by the rules'. 

In a big development, the Bombay High Court agreed to hear the bail petition of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan on Tuesday, October 26. A day earlier, he along with co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were denied bail by Special NDPS judge VV Patil. Mentioning the matter before Justice NW Sambre, Aryan Khan's counsel Satish Maneshinde pointed out that no drugs were recovered from his client and that there was no evidence against him.

In a significant development, Bangladesh Police on Wednesday identified a man who had placed a copy of the Quran at Nanua Dighir Par puja mandap on October 13 that led to the communal violence in Cumilla. According to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Comilla, Farooq Ahmed's statement to Dhaka Tribune, the man has been identified as 35-year-old Iqbal Hossain. The breakthrough in the investigation came through CCTV footage and senior police officials are scheduled to address media on the matter today. 

Coming down heavily on Captain Amarinder Singh for seeking to tie up with BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed that they were in cahoots with each other for the last 5 years. Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar on Wednesday, she asserted that Singh always followed BJP's line during his tenure as the CM. To buttress her point, Badal highlighted that PM Modi had not spoken against the former Punjab CM, unlike other opposition leaders. Moreover, he alleged that BJP had helped the Congress leader in the 2017 Assembly polls by transferring its votes to him. 

As India administers 100 crore COVID-19 vaccination jabs, PM Modi hails India's record vaccine drive-

In a landmark achievement, India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed 100 crore doses on Thursday. A total of 100 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far to eligible beneficiaries, as per the CoWIN portal.

India on Thursday achieved a historic feat as it has administered more than 100 crores COVID-19 vaccination jabs since the country's inoculation drive began. In order to mark the celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will reach Delhi Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The country is set to witness celebrations and it is expected that announcements will be made on airplanes, ships, metros and at railway stations when India achieves its target of administering 100 crore doses. 

Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday visited his son Aryan Khan at Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. Aryan Khan was arrested in the high-profile Mumbai cruise drug bust case. 

As India is set to cross a historic 100 crore COVID-19 vaccination milestone on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital with Dr Rana. According to sources, PM Modi will interact with people getting vaccinated including a couple of individuals from Uttar Pradesh who will be sharing their experience. During the celebrations, PM Modi will also interact with healthcare workers. 

Meanwhile, several monuments across the country were illuminated to mark the 100 crore COVID-19 vaccination milestone. In addition, officials have informed that the largest khadi tricolour in the country, weighing around 1,400 kg, will be displayed at the Red Fort on Thursday. The tricolour hoisted in Leh to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 will be used at the Red Fort. Below is the picture of Aga Khan Palace in Pune:

Former US President Bill Clinton has spoken out for the first time after getting discharged from hospital earlier this week. Late on Wednesday, he posted a video on Twitter wherein he said that he was “on the road to recovery.”

Ahead of the Goa assembly elections next year, several Goa Congress leaders have jumped ship to join Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Trinamool Congress has yet again welcomed leaders from the grand old party's Goa unit. On Wednesday, North Goa Congress Seva Dal Chief Ulhas Vasnkar along with few other social activists joined the TMC. Apart from them, Former General Secretary of INC Mahila Wing, Priya Rathod too joined the Trinamool Congress. Moreover, Shiv Sena Block President from Ponda, Vinod Borkar and several others joined the TMC at an event that was held at the party's office in Panaji.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday penned a letter to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the alleged vandalism by YSR Congress Party workers at the Telugu Desam Party's central office in Andhra Pradesh's Mangalagiri. In his letter, the TDP President spotlighted the alleged hooliganism sponsored by the ruling YSRCP-led government and their attempts to impede democracy in the state.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled a memorial in Ra'anana, northern Israel in honour of Indian troops who martyred in the Battle of Tabsor during World War I. He unveiled the memorial with the Mayor of Ra'anana, Chaim Broyde, on Wednesday, October 20. This is a step towards creating an India Trail, which will identify the key spots where Indian soldiers fought and martyred in the line of duty in the region. It is planned that the route, India's military great warpath, will have six plaques at six locations, including Haifa and Ra'anana.

Former United States President Donald Trump has announced on Wednesday, 20 October that he is launching his own social media app called ‘TRUTH Social’. Banned from social media for the last nine months, Trump had previously launched his own website to issue statements and remain in touch with his supporters. Former US President’s accounts were permanently suspended from Facebook and Twitter over his 'involvement in inciting' the 6 January US Capitol insurrection. 

Taking a jibe at UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday, requested him to not act against a few women police officers who posed for a photo with her. Sharing the photo, she stated, "If it is a crime to take pictures with me, then I should also be punished for it. It does not suit the government to spoil the career of these hardworking and loyal policemen". Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was briefly detained by Lucknow police while enroute to Agra to meet the family members of a man who died in police custody. 

The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) of the United Kingdom which is headed by the 65,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth, will enter Indian waters with one of the ships anchoring at Mumbai Port, further commencing robust engagements between India and the UK. Further, when the vessel will dock in Mumbai, the UK foreign secretary will engage in a conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other business leaders. The first tri-service exercise between the two countries, Konkan Shakti, will be conducted while visiting HMS Queen Elizabeth. Another army drill, Ajeya Warrior, is now taking place in Uttarakhand, with about 120 British troops taking part.