'Na bhula hu, na bhulne dunga': Who is EX NCB officer Sameer Wankhede giving a warning to?

In a candid conversation with Subhojit Ghosh, EX NCB officer Sameer Wankhede opened up about the much-discussed Cordelia Cruise drug case that led to the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, in 2021. Wankhede, who was then zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), found himself at the centre of national attention — facing both praise and criticism.

In this detailed exchange, Wankhede calls the Aryan Khan case the “smallest” of his career, despite the storm it caused in the media and public imagination. He also touches on the personal toll the case took, including the attacks on his family, especially his mother, and how he’s still processing it all.

In earlier podcasts, you have referred to the Cordelia Cruise case as the smallest case of your life. Why do you say that?

Kyuki media ne usko bahut bada bana diya. Media ne, because, I mean, woh toh public ke liye tha. (Aryan Khan/celebrity angle) Lekin hamare liye, law ke liye, it was just one offence. Aur aapki kitaabein hoti hain, procedures hote hain jo follow karne hote hain. Bas, that is it. Baaki, hum faces nahi dekhte. At least main toh nahi dekhta. Jaise maine aapse pehle bhi kaha, har officer ka farz hota hai ki woh apna kaam kare — seizure kare, investigation kare, jis cheez ke liye appoint kiya gaya hai. Toh yeh bhi ek routine case hi tha hamare liye. Honestly, mujhe bade cases yaad hain. Jaise ek tha — 6000 kilo ka seizure. Ab woh case main genuinely bada maanta hoon.

So professionally, it was a routine case for you. But for the media and public, it became huge because of who was involved?

Exactly. That is what I understand. But for me, as an officer, kuch bhi out of the ordinary nahi tha.

Still, do you think this case got more attention than even the bigger seizures you handled?

Main aapko correct karna chahunga, It was odd. Mujhe allegations lag gaye. 2008 se main service mein hoon. Kabhi koi allegation nahi laga. Pure man aur imandari se desh ki seva ki hai. Aur bas ek chhote se case mein, har jagah allegations lag gaye. Din mein do-do baar press conferences ho rahi thi. Har 2–3 ghante mein ek nayi inquiry khul rahi thi. Media har channel pe wahi chala raha tha. It was entertainment for some people. Lekin jo sabse chubhne wali baat thi — meri maa ke baare mein jo bola gaya.

Your mother was dragged in all of this too, how did you deal with that?

Kuch logon ka waqt aata hai. Kuch logon ka jaata hai. Ab waqt ki baari hai sirf.

Amidst all of this, you continued with your routine and work. How did you manage your mental health during that time?

Us waqt sambhal nahi raha tha. Abhi bhi sambhal raha hoon. Main bas itna keh sakta hoon — waqt fir aayega. Aur jo hua, na main bhoolunga, na bhoolne dunga.

The case in question dates back to October 2021, when Aryan Khan was detained following a drug raid conducted on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. Despite no drugs being found in his possession, Aryan was arrested by the NCB and spent several weeks in custody. The handling of the investigation, and Wankhede's role in particular, drew widespread attention. Over time, the focus shifted to the legal fallout and the personal dynamics between those involved, especially after the leaked conversations between Shah Rukh Khan and Wankhede came into public view.

Sameer Wankhede’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the personal and professional challenges faced by officers caught in the eye of a media storm. While the Cordelia Cruise case became a national spectacle due to the celebrity angle, Wankhede’s account reminds us of the deeper complexities within law enforcement. For him, it was just another case among hundreds, but one that left behind personal scars, professional scrutiny, and public debate that continues to echo years later. His words, though measured, make it clear: the real story is far more layered than headlines ever suggested.