Spelling embarrassment for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), an affidavit by one of its "independent witnesses" alleging threats and bribe ignited a political storm in Maharashtra on Sunday and raised questions on the agency's credibility.
Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut tweeted on Sunday that the claims by NCB witness, Prabhakar Sail, are "shocking".
"It is shocking that the witness in the case was made to sign on blank papers by the NCB. Also, there are allegations of demands for huge money," he said.
Read | NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede fears false implication, approaches city police chief
Raut urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil to direct the police to take suo-moto cognisance and initiate investigation in the matter.
Hitting out the Centre for targeting the Maha Vikas Aghadi government through central probe agencies, NCP state President and Minister Jayant Patil said: "It is satisfying to note how the truth of the NCB case is now unfolding before the public.
NCP national spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the entire issue including the ship raid in which several youngsters like Aryan Khan were nabbed.
Addressing the media, he said: "I have been saying from day one that the entire raids were a sham to malign the MVA government and demoralise Bollywood. I will personally meet the CM and the HM to demand a probe by an SIT into this matter."
Also Read | 'The man who knows too much': Witness hammers NCB on cruise raid
Although Wankhede has denied the allegations including his sojourns abroad, the NCB issued a statement confirming he had gone to Maldives with his family after proper official clearances.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari had shot off a petition to Supreme Court Chief Justice N. V. Ramana last week, demanding a probe by a top court judge into the anti-drug agency's affairs and protect the fundamental rights of Aryan Khan.
Similarly, former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi had slammed the NCB, for making Aryan Khan "pay the price for being a star kid".
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