Sameer Wankhede, the former Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), recently shared his thoughts on the intense trolling he faced following the arrest of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, in 2021. Aryan, along with six others, was arrested by the NCB in connection with an alleged drugs racket. Wankhede, who was in charge of the case, was subjected to significant online abuse as the controversy surrounding the arrest unfolded.
In an exclusive interview with Zoom Entertainment, Wankhede addressed the toll these attacks took on him and his family. “Trolling is entertainment for me. I have faced much worse: bullets, terrorists. These are very small things. Threatening messages are quite funny,” he remarked, highlighting his resilience in the face of online criticism.
Despite the relentless trolling, Wankhede revealed that many others praised his efforts for upholding the law impartially. “I have also been praised for holding the land of the law equal for all, and that’s what matters to me,” he said. To his critics, he quipped, “Try harder.”
After Aryan’s arrest and subsequent bail, Shah Rukh Khan chose to stay away from the media, leading to speculation that he was upset with the way the incident was reported. When asked about this shift in SRK’s behavior, Sameer Wankhede stated that he had not been keeping track of the actor’s actions. “I have no idea what he has been doing,” he remarked.
Wankhede also commented on a widely circulated video of Aryan Khan and his friends at a New Year’s party. When asked if Aryan’s alleged drunken behavior on that occasion played a role in the arrest, Wankhede refrained from commenting directly on the video. He did, however, shared his perspective on today’s youth and the culture around New Year’s celebrations. “Youngsters today think New Year’s eve is meant to get sloshed. No doubt, people should enjoy, but don’t harm your body,” he said.
Regarding SRK’s decision to quit smoking in the wake of the drugs case, Wankhede simply ignored the question, stating, “I would not want to comment on ‘XYZ person’.”
In 2023, Shah Rukh Khan made a strong comeback with his films Pathaan and Jawan. The latter film featured a line – “Bete ko haath lagane se pehle, baap se baat kar” – which fans speculated could be aimed at Wankhede. When asked for his opinion, Wankhede dismissed the idea, saying, “A lot of people said it was aimed at me, but I don’t think so. I am not that important for them to include me in their movies. If at all it is about me, I would like to take it as a compliment.” He further expressed that the line was “third-grade” and not part of Indian culture.
Wankhede was also questioned about Aryan’s arrest, particularly regarding the absence of drugs during his arrest. Wankhede defended the arrest, stating, “When a drug is being manufactured, there might be a supplier and a consumer. If a police officer catches hold of someone involved in the process, it is assumed that the person who supplied the drugs should also be arrested, even if they don’t have drugs with them.”
Finally, Wankhede was asked about the alleged statement made by Aryan Khan, “Tu janta nahi mera baap kaun hai?” In response, he said, “I wouldn’t like to comment on such things. It is all submitted in the court. If anyone uses such language with me in another case, they will be strongly dealt with by law. Such language doesn’t work with me.”