The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted IRS officer and former zonal director of Narcotics Control Bureau, Sameer Wankhede, interim protection from arrest till February 28 in a case registered against him for allegedly falsifying his age to obtain a liquor licence.
A Division Bench of justices S.S. Shinde and N.R. Borkar was hearing Mr. Wankhede’s petition to quash the case. It said he was a minor when the alleged crime took place. The incident happened in 1997 and the FIR was lodged in 2022. Advocate appearing for him said it was clear that the case was politically motivated and sought protection from arrest.
Public prosecutor Aruna Pai said a notice had been issued against Mr. Wankdede under section 41A (notice for appearance before a police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Where was the question of arrest, she said.
