Mumbai: A Mumbai court has issued a show-cause notice to the Amboli police station over the prolonged delay in submitting a probe report in a high-profile defamation and cyberstalking case filed by Yasmeen Wankhede, sister of former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede, against senior NCP leader and ex-minister Nawab Malik.
The notice was issued by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashish Awari of the Bandra court, expressing dissatisfaction with the police’s inaction despite clear directives. In January 2025, the court had ordered an investigation under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which permits the magistrate to delay issuance of summons until preliminary verification is completed. However, the Amboli police have failed to file any report to date.
Background of the Case
The complaint, filed by Yasmeen Wankhede through her advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, accuses Nawab Malik of making “false, defamatory, and scandalous” allegations about her across television interviews and social media platforms. The accusations also include online stalking, with the complainant alleging that Malik persistently targeted her with malicious intent.
This legal conflict traces back to 2021, when Sameer Wankhede was heading several high-profile NCB drug investigations, including a case involving Malik’s late son-in-law, Sameer Khan. According to the complaint, Malik’s subsequent remarks against Yasmeen Wankhede were motivated by personal vendetta, seeking to publicly tarnish the family’s reputation and intimidate them during a period of intense media scrutiny and political fallout.
The case, originally lodged in an Andheri court, was later transferred to the special MP/MLA court in Bandra due to the political stature of the accused.
Legal Stand and Delay
The court had clearly directed the local police to conduct a detailed probe before deciding whether to summon Malik. The failure to comply with this directive has now attracted judicial reprimand, with the show-cause notice demanding an explanation for the unexplained delay.
Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, speaking on behalf of Yasmeen Wankhede, has criticized the police for “apathy and deliberate stalling”, suggesting that the delay may be politically influenced, given the sensitivity and prominence of the individuals involved.
What’s Next
The Amboli police are now obligated to respond to the court’s show-cause notice and justify the prolonged inaction in the matter. If the court finds the explanation unsatisfactory, it could escalate the matter, including issuing directions for immediate compliance or even transferring the case to a different agency.
The issue underscores growing concerns over police neutrality and procedural delays in politically sensitive cases. As the legal battle unfolds, it is likely to revive debate around the intersection of law enforcement, politics, and media trials in Maharashtra’s power corridors.
