The Bombay High Court has extended the interim relief from arrest granted to IRS Officer and former Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede until March 27 in the money laundering case registered against him.

The division bench, comprising Justice PD Naik and Justice NR Borkar, is presently hearing Wankhede's petition seeking to quash the money laundering case filed against him.

The Court adjourned the hearing after the Enforcement Directorate requested time to file a brief reply. The court has scheduled the next hearing for the petition filed by Sameer Wankhede on March 27, 2024.

During an earlier hearing on February 20th, the Enforcement Directorate had declared that it would abstain from arresting Wankhede until March 1, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was scheduled to appear on behalf of the agency.

The ED has leveled accusations against Wankhede, alleging that he demanded a bribe of Rs. 25 crores from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in exchange for refraining from implicating his son in the Cordelia Drugs Cruise Ship Case.

During the previous hearing on February 15th, the agency assured that it would refrain from arresting Wankhede until February 20th. In a hearing before the high court on February 13th, the agency informed the court that the money laundering case had been transferred to Delhi. Consequently, Wankhede was advised to seek relief from the appropriate courts in Delhi.

The Enforcement Directorate initiated a case against Wankhede subsequent to the CBI filing an FIR against him. The CBI's FIR alleged offences under sections 7 (bribery), 7A (undue advantage to influence a public servant by illegal means), and 12 (abetment) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, in addition to sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code.

The case pertains to the investigation initiated by the NCB Unit of Mumbai, which conducted a drug seizure from a cruise heading to Goa from Mumbai. Subsequently, the NCB arrested 20 individuals, including Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan.In light of these developments, Wankhede has sought interim protection from arrest until the high court hears his petition.