Nawab Malik’s charges against NCB Zonal Director Wankhede baseless: Athawale
Lucknow Oct 27(UNI)Union minister Ramdas Athawale has termed the allegations levelled by Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik against NCB’s zonal director Sameer Wankhede as “baseless” and “mischievous”, and defended the officer saying he has not done anything wrong.
Mr Athawale accused Malik of trying to give a religious and casteist colour while targeting Wankhede.
“Samir Wankhede is a dalit from Mahar community of Maharashtra and Nawab Malik is targeting the Dalit Indian revenue service officer Wankhede as he had booked the son in law of the minister in drug peddling case. Nawab Malik is vindictive as the son in law was in jail for eight months’’, said Athwale here on Wednesday.
Mr Athawale said the Maharashtra government should ensure that Wankhede is not harmed and that there is no threat to his life.
Malik, a leader of the ruling NCP, has been repeatedly targeting the NCB and Wankhede, who had supervised the raid on a cruise liner off the Mumbai coast earlier this month that led to the alleged recovery of drugs and the arrest of Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan.
A few days back, Malik had dubbed Wankhede as “bogus” and asserted that once “proof” against him is out, he cannot remain in government service even for one day. He had also said that the officer will lose his job in one year and eventually land in jail. Wankhede has, however, refuted the allegations.
Mr Athawale said Aryan Khan instead of being sent to jail should have been sent to the de-addiction centre for the possession and consumption of drugs. “If a person consuming alcohol or who is alcoholic is sent to de addiction centre instead of jail, person consuming drugs should also be sent to the de addiction centre’’, he said.
Mr Athwale who was in Lucknow on Wednesday in connection with the organisational activities of his party- Republican party of India (RPI), said the Bahujan Kalyan Yatra currently underway in UP, will conclude here on December 18. He said RPI has organised a big rally here on December 18 where the BJP president JP Nadda and chief minister Yogi Adityanath are likely to participate.
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