After flak for Aryan case, Wankhede transferred to Tamil Nadu

MUMBAI: Sameer Wankhede, the officer who probed the narcotics-related cases against Rhea Chakraborty and Aryan Khan, has been transferred to the Directorate General of Tax Payer Services (DGTS), Chennai as additional commissioner. He has been posted in the same rank that he has been holding since the last two years. With inquiries currently on against him for alleged service violations and his present tenure in the Risk Management Division under the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence not yet complete, the shift is being referred to as not a usual transfer, said sources.
The DGTS is into Taxpayer Services, Stakeholder Consultation & Grievance Redressal, according to the government website. This includes laying down service standards and monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the same from time to time to assess their effectiveness and efficiency, it says.

The vigilance unit of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which is Wankhede’s parent organisation, on Monday recorded his statement as part of the probe into the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zonal chief’s conduct. An internal review by NCB had faulted the officer’s investigation methods in the Aryan Khan case. Wankhede was taken on loan by NCB from the CBIC.
Sources said the vigilance directorate in Mumbai was forwarded a series of complaints sent to the Union finance ministry against the officer. These include the alleged securing of a bar licence when he was a minor. NCP leader Nawab Malik had complained to the state excise wing, chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) and the finance ministry. Wankhede, when contacted, denied the allegations. Wankhede has filed two petitions in the Bombay HC against the allegations made by Malik and the actions initiated by the state against him.

It is learnt that the vigilance cell has scrutinised the officer’s tax and property returns. The source of money for his trips to foreign countries in recent years will also be examined, as government officials when being granted approval for foreign travel are required to submit detailed information regarding the source of funds, sources said. Wankhede denied that the vigilance cell has sought information on these issues.