Mumbai, Jan 13 (IANS) In a major embarrassment for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Narcotics Control Bureau on Wednesday questioned Samir Khan, son-in-law of state minister Nawab Malik, in an alleged drug-related case, sources said.
Khan appeared before the agency in the case after a few transactions between him and a drug peddler came to light and his statement was being recorded till this evening.
The NCB believes that the payments to a peddler were reportedly intended for drugs purchase and Khan was summoned to verify the details in the case pertaining to the seizure of a 200 kg drugs consignment last week in Mumbai.
The high-profile Malik is Minister for Minority Affairs in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA, and is also ruling ally NCP’s national spokesperson.
Married to Malik’s daughter Nilofar, Samir Khan went to the NCB office in south Mumbai this morning but declined to speak with the media.
The NCB probe pertains to an alleged online transaction of Rs 20,000 between Khan and one accused in a drug case in which a British national Karan Sajnani and two more were nabbed with the drug consignment.
The development came a day after the NCB arrested Ramkumar Tiwari, one of the third-generation owners of Mumbai’s famous ‘Muchhad Paanwala’ in the same case.
BJP ex-MP Kirit Somaiya took to Twitter and said: “Now ‘damad’ (son-in-law) of NCP Minister under investigation of Narcotics Control Bureau, involvement in drug scam. Nawab Malik Javab Do (Nawab Malik, answer please)!!”
He also tagged other senior leaders like Leaders of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis and (Council) Pravin Darekar and the BJP state President Chandrakant Patil.
However, there have been no reactions from the ruling MVA partners – Shiv Sena, NCP or Congress.
–IANS
qn/aks/kr