Wanhkede trying to show SRK messages as 'certificate of integrity', says CBI; HC extends IRS official's interim protection till June 8
The Hindu
Former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede is trying to show the alleged messages exchanged with film superstar Shah Rukh Khan as “certificate of integrity”, the CBI told the Bombay High Court on Monday during a hearing of a petition of the official who is accused of seeking ₹25 crore as bribe from the actor for not implicating his son Aryan in the Cordelia cruise ‘drug bust’ case.
Former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede is trying to show the alleged messages exchanged with film superstar Shah Rukh Khan as “certificate of integrity”, the CBI told the Bombay High Court on Monday during a hearing of a petition of the official who is accused of seeking ₹25 crore as bribe from the actor for not implicating his son Aryan in the Cordelia cruise 'drug bust' case.
A vacation bench of Justices Abhay Ahuja and M.M. Sathaye on Monday extended till June 8 the interim protection granted to Wankhede in the case. Last Friday, the court had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation not to take any coercive against him till May 22.
Citing the messages exchanged with Mr. Khan, Mr. Wankhede, in his petition, has claimed the film superstar had no grievance against him and had requested that he be kind to his son Aryan Khan.
Mr. Wankhede further claimed the actor had not only praised his integrity “but has also expressed his anguish over the political involvement in the matter".
Referring to the chats, Mr. Wankhede, in his plea, claimed the tone of Khan's messages would have been completely contrary had he (Wankhede) raised demands for money for releasing Aryan Khan.
During the hearing on Monday, the CBI, represented by advocate Kuldeep Patil, submitted that those requests (referring to the messages exchanged between Shah Rukh Khan and Mr. Wankhede) were made by a father (Mr. Khan) whose young son (Mr. Aryan) was in his (Mr. Wankhede) custody.
Mr. Wankede is trying to show them (messages from Mr. Khan) as a “certificate of integrity”, CBI advocate Patil told court.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”