Sameer Wankhede sets record straight on Aryan Khan’s drug case, says ‘Woh bali ka bakra…’

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan’s life was in doldrums when, in 2021, he was arrested in connection with the drugs-on-cruise case. Former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede has now denied that Aryan Khan was made a “bali ka bakra” in the drug case.

Talking about his arrest, Sameer assured that everything done during 2021 was by the book. He also emphasised that people can be taken into custody on drug-related charges even without being found in possession of any substances.

During a conversation with Mama’s Couch YouTube channel, Sameer spoke about the drug case. He revealed that during that time, he signed an affidavit, submitted in Bombay High Court, where he was asked not to speak about the case to any media channels.

As the interviewer pressed with pointed questions about Aryan’s case, Sameer provided detailed answers while deliberately avoiding mentioning Aryan’s name.

Talking about the case, Sameer said, “People have this misconception that if no drugs were found on you, there won’t be any action. If someone has been caught with drugs, then someone must have manufactured it, someone must have supplied it, and there must be someone who is intending to buy it.”

He added, “Do you think that we should not arrest those who manufacture them, or those who are intending to buy them, because both of them will not be in possession of drugs? The law entails that the entire chain should be arrested. No matter who is the one who has the possession.”

When the host asked Sameer whether Aryan was made ‘Bali Ka Bakra’ in the case, Sameer responded, “‘Bali ka bakra’ (a scapegoat)? Isme bali ka bakra koi banta nahi hai (There is no scapegoat in this). After a lot of thought, there is conscious possession, there is some electronic evidence, there are some statements, and on the basis of that, the investigation is done…It’s not just Wankhede who is doing it all; there are a lot of procedures.”