Sameer Wankhede owns a bar, says nothing illegal about it

MUMBAI: Reports emerged on Thursday that the Narcotics Control Bureau’s zonal director Sameer Wankhede had a bar and restaurant licence in his name in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. According to records of the excise department, the licence of Hotel Sadguru is in the name of Wankhede. It was issued on October 27, 1997 and was renewed as per rules; it is valid up to March 31, 2022. Since it is a bar and restaurant, the place has been permitted to sale foreign-made as well as IMFL (Indian-Made Foreign Liquor).
Wankhede confirmed to TOI that the licence was in his name and ever since he joined the all-India service, the power of attorney has been given to his father Dnyandev Wankhede. “Nothing illegal in it. I have mentioned the specific information on the licence for the bar and restaurant in my annual immovable property returns since I joined the service in 2006. In fact, all the income from the business too has been mentioned in my income-tax returns,” Wankhede said.