Forgery case against Sameer Wankhede over bar licence

Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik last year had claimed that Sameer Wankhede owned a permit room and bar at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, the licence for which was obtained in 1997 when he was a minor.

Thane police have registered an FIR against Narcotics Control Bureau's former Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede for alleged forgery in connection with a licence which he had procured for a bar and hotel owned by him in Navi Mumbai, an official said on Sunday.

District Collector Rajesh Narvekar had recently cancelled the licence, claiming it was obtained by misrepresentation and fraud.

An FIR was registered against Mr. Wankhede on Saturday night at Kopri police station here for the offence of forgery following a complaint by state Excise officials, Thane Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Dr. Vinaykumar Rathod said.

Notably, Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik in November last year claimed Mr. Wankhede owned a permit room and bar at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, the licence for which was obtained in 1997 when he was a minor, and that this was illegal.

Mr. Malik had also said that despite being in a government job, Mr. Wankhede held a licence to operate the permit room which was against service rules. Mr. Wankhede had then denied the minister's claims.

The State Excise department had subsequently issued a notice to Mr. Wankhede in connection with the bar licence obtained by him.

Following his response and examination of the matter, the district collector recently concluded that Mr. Wankhede had obtained the licence on October 27,1997, when he was less than 18 years old, as against the permissible age of 21, an official earlier said.