The Bombay High Court on Monday issued a new notice to an inspector of the Maharashtra Excise Department while hearing a petition filed by the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede. In this petition, Wankhede had demanded the cancellation of the FIR lodged against him in connection with the canceled liquor license. The bench of Justice AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsle directed Wankhede to submit a copy of the canceled liquor license before proceeding in the case. The license was originally released in his mother’s name and later allegedly incorporated as a minor.
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The case is related to a liquor license for a restaurant in Navi Mumbai, which was initially named after Wankhede’s mother. Officials allege that Wankhede’s name was added as partners when he was a minor. The license was later canceled in 2022, after which an FIR was registered. Senior Advocates Abad Ponda and Rizwan Merchant, appearing for Wankhede, argued that the FIR was motivated and lacked legal basis. Ponda argued that Wankhede, while he was still a few months to be 18 years of age, signed an affidavit regarding the license, which has now become the basis of the FIR.
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He further alleged that the case was inspired by politics, and linked to the previous role as the Regional Director of Wankhede’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), during which he arrested the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and the son -in -law of former state minister Nawab Malik. Ponda claimed that after the arrest, Malik had carried out a continuous campaign against Wankhede. Ponda also reminded the court that Wankhede was provided interim protection from any type of punitive action in 2022 and argued that the sections imposed in the FIR do not apply to the matter.
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After examining the FIR, the bench questioned the age of Wankhede at the time of alleged inclusion in the license. Ponda replied that it was above 17 years, only a few months shorter than 18 years. The license was valid and was named after her mother. He says that when he was a minor, his mother added his name to it.