Andheri Court Orders Probe into Defamation Complaint Filed by IRS Officer Sameer Wankhede Against Namrata Shroff
The Metropolitan Magistrate in Andheri has instructed Amboli Police to initiate a formal investigation into a criminal defamation case lodged by Indian Revenue Service officer Sameer Wankhede. The complaint targets Ms. Namrata Shroff for allegedly publishing defamatory content on social media, particularly in connection with high-profile narcotics cases overseen by Wankhede—including the inquiry following actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Claims of Serious Harm to Reputation
Sameer Wankhede, who previously served as Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), contends that Shroff disseminated a series of damaging statements via a fabricated microblogging profile. He claims these posts inflicted significant and lasting damage to both his professional image and personal integrity.
The complaint, filed through legal counsel Malika Shirzade, argues that Shroff had no official involvement in any of the narcotics investigations but nonetheless launched a targeted and hostile online campaign aimed at discrediting him.
Social Media Posts Linked to Sensitive Drug Cases
According to the legal filing, Shroff’s online activity repeatedly referenced confidential drug-related probes and was allegedly designed to tarnish Wankhede’s role in those cases. He further asserts that internal digital tracking identified Shroff as the source, operating under a pseudonymous identity.
“These communications were intentionally defamatory, crafted to erode public trust in my work and diminish my credibility in critical investigations,” Wankhede is quoted as saying in the complaint.
Legal Proceedings Under New Criminal Code
Wankhede has requested that the matter be prosecuted under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to criminal defamation offenses.
The magistrate has directed Amboli Police to carry out a comprehensive inquiry and submit their findings by November 30, 2025. The court will decide on further legal steps after evaluating the police report.
