NCB informer alleges Sameer Wankhede wanted to take up only hi-profile, film-related raids, left other cases to local police

MUMBAI: Speaking to this reporter, a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) informer Waseem Khan (name changed) from Malwani, near Malad West in suburban Mumbai, who has been giving tips to the agency for the last two years, said the Mumbai NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede was not interested in local cases.

“Time and again, I have given tips to the NCB regarding sale and consumption of drugs in the suburbs – in Malad, Kandivili, Charkop, etc., but the agency asked me to contact the local police stations. A lot of adulterated or ‘fake’ charas and ganja are sold and consumed by drug addicts in the Malwani area. In fact, in Malwani-Charkop area alone, more than 3-5 kgs of charas are consumed every day by local drug addicts. There are more than 1000 regular consumers of drugs in the Malwani-Charkop area, plus the Aksa – Madh and Marve beach localities, which attract visitors from all over Mumbai. I have brought this to the notice of the NCB several times, but was told to contact the NCB only if film personalities or models are involved. For ordinary street consumers, they told me to contact the local police station and file a complaint there,” Khan told this reporter.

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Senior NCB officials including Wankhede said they only raid “bade log” or “big people”. Aam aadmi ka complaint chowky ya ANC (anti narcotics cell of the police) mein karo,” Khan was told on more than 5 occasions in the last one year, he claimed.

“Since I live in Malwani, I was saddened to see youth consuming drugs on the street and in deserted open plots. The local police say they do not have manpower to raid the drug addicts as they attack them with knives and iron rods and the NCB is only interested in targeting celebrities and film stars,” lamented Khan, saying that he is likely to file a PIL on the issue.