CAT stays departmental inquiry against Sameer Wankhede in Aryan Khan drug case

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Wednesday passed an ad-interim order staying further departmental proceedings against Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede [Sameer Wankhede v Revenue]..The departmental action had stemmed from allegations related to his investigation of the 2021 Aryan Khan drug case.The CAT Bench comprising Justice Ranjit More (Chairman) and Rajinder Kashyap (Administrative member) noted that the disciplinary proceedings were based on material already submitted by Wankhede before the Bombay High Court. “It is not in dispute that the impugned charge memorandum is premised upon very material and evidence which the applicant himself had placed before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court…in which an interim stay has already been granted in his favour. Thus, the matter is sub judice,” the tribunal observed.Subsequently, halted further departmental proceedings and sought the Revenue Department's response to a plea filed by Wankhede challenging the action against him. .The charge memorandum, dated August 18, levels two allegations against Wankhede. The first accuses him of “wilfully and deliberately” seeking sensitive and confidential information from the NCB’s Departmental Legal Advisor in June 2022, despite being officially detached from the agency. The second charge claims that Wankhede obtained an “assurance” from the legal advisor to steer the Aryan Khan drug case investigation “towards a predetermined outcome for ulterior motive.” It refers to a recorded conversation that allegedly points to a prior understanding..The tribunal recorded that an interim stay had already been granted by the Bombay High Court in a related matter. Taking this into account, it issued notice to the Revenue Department and stayed any further proceedings. “By way of interim measure, we direct the respondents not to proceed further with the departmental enquiry initiated against the applicant, pursuant to the impugned charge memorandum, till the next date of hearing,” the tribunal ordered.The case will be heard next on October 14, 2025.Advocate Ajesh Luthra assisted by advocate Jatin Parashar appeared for WankhedeAdvocate Hanu Bhaskar appeared for Revenue.[Read Order]