The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday informed the Bombay High Court that it would conclude its investigation against former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede within three months in connection with the Cordelia cruise bribery case.

The assurance came during the hearing of Wankhede’s plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him for allegedly demanding a ₹25-crore bribe from Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in exchange for leniency towards his son Aryan Khan in the 2021 cruise drug case.

A division bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Rajesh Patil expressed concern over the delay in the investigation, sharply asking the CBI, “Tell us, will it take 10 years or 20 years to finish the probe?”

When CBI counsel Advocate Kuldeep Patil sought time to seek instructions, the Court insisted on an immediate and definitive timeline. Patil eventually submitted that the investigation would be completed within three months.

Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Wankhede, raised strong objections to the prolonged delay, arguing that the investigation had been stalled for nearly two years. He pointed out that the CBI had repeatedly cited the awaited appearance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as a reason for adjournment.

“This is directly impacting my client’s career. His promotion is on hold. If the matter is admitted, we will move the Central Administrative Tribunal for necessary relief,” Ponda told the court.

Noting the recurring pattern of adjournments, the Court pressed the CBI for clarity and rejected further delays on the same grounds.

Following the CBI’s undertaking, the Court admitted Wankhede’s petition and extended the interim protection earlier granted to him, thereby preventing any coercive action. However, it allowed the agency to proceed with filing a chargesheet, if necessary, with prior permission from the Court.

The CBI had booked Wankhede in May 2023 under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 388 (extortion by threat), along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act pertaining to bribery. The FIR was based on a complaint by the NCB alleging that Wankhede and others attempted to extort money from Shah Rukh Khan during the investigation involving his son.

Wankhede has denied all allegations, claiming the case is politically driven. In his defense, he submitted a series of text exchanges with Shah Rukh Khan, asserting that the tone of communication was respectful and did not suggest any financial demand or coercion.