Delhi HC upholds CAT stay on Sameer Wankhede’s disciplinary action

Delhi High Court Refuses to Set Aside CAT Order on IRS Officer

The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to overturn the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) order that stayed the departmental enquiry against Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede. This enquiry is linked to allegations against him in the 2021 Aryan Khan drug case.

Aryan Khan Drug Case Background

Aryan Khan was arrested by Sameer Wankhede during a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid on a cruise ship in 2021.

Allegations Against Wankhede

The action against Wankhede stemmed from a charge memorandum issued on August 18, 2025. It alleged that he sought sensitive information from the NCB’s legal advisor in June 2022. This was despite being formally relieved from the NCB in January 2022.

A second charge claimed that Wankhede obtained an assurance from the legal advisor to influence the Aryan Khan drug case investigation. The CAT, on August 27, restrained the Centre from taking further action against him while hearing Wankhede’s plea challenging the charge.

Court Proceedings

The order was issued by justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan while addressing the Centre’s petition against the CAT’s August 27 order. The court noted that the Centre filed the petition nearly five months after the CAT issued its direction. It directed the tribunal to resolve Wankhede’s petition by January 14 or within ten days thereafter.

Centre’s Argument

“The inquiry was stayed on 27th. For the last five months, you didn’t take any steps, and today, when the matter is listed for final argument, you have come. Tell us what has caused the prejudice?” the court asked the Centre’s lawyers, Ravi Prakash and Astu Khandelwal.

The court added, “Keeping in view the aforesaid, the writ is disposed of with the following directions, the tribunal will take sincere efforts for disposal of the petition on 14/1 or within next ten days from 14/1.”

Response from the Centre and Wankhede’s Lawyer

Centre’s lawyer Ravi Prakash urged the court to set aside the order, arguing that the tribunal erred in staying the proceedings based on an interim stay from the Bombay High Court’s June 2023 order. The Bombay High Court had restrained the CBI from taking coercive action against Wankhede in a corruption and extortion case.

Prakash claimed that the relief was granted based on an unrelated case, and the CAT’s order was hindering further inquiry.

Wankhede’s lawyer, Nidhesh Gupta, opposed the petition, stating that his client’s case was set for final hearing on January 14.

Wankhede’s Background

While serving as the zonal director of the Mumbai NCB, Wankhede arrested Aryan Khan in 2021. However, he later faced scrutiny from multiple agencies, including the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July 2023. This scrutiny was due to allegations of demanding a ₹25 crore bribe from Shah Rukh Khan to avoid implicating his son Aryan in the case.