New Delhi, 27 February (H.S.):

Delhi High Court annulled the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) order discharging ex-Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede from departmental disciplinary proceedings, reinstating CBIC's inquiry into alleged procedural lapses.

Justice Anil Kshetarpal's bench upheld the Centre's challenge, ruling CAT erred on January 19 in deeming the August 18, 2025 charge memo—based on Wankhede's own submitted call records—a misuse devoid of valid grounds.

Government clarified charges stemmed from Wankhede's post-relief efforts to access confidential NCB data and sway probes, not barred facts, contravening CCS Conduct Rules.Wankhede rose to infamy leading the 2021 Cordelia cruise raid arresting Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, transferred post-Khan's clean chit.

CAT had decried the memo as vague and malafide; HC disagreed, permitting resumption amid his Netflix defamation suit dismissal over a series portrayal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar