The Supreme Court on 25 March 2026 disposed of the Special Leave Petition filed by IRS officer Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede challenging the Delhi High Court order in WPC No. 1053/2026, while declining to interfere with the High Court’s judgment. A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that the appointment of the Inquiry Officer and Presenting Officer on 07 March 2026 had been made without affording the petitioner sufficient opportunity to file his reply to the chargesheet. The Court therefore permitted Wankhede to represent himself and file a reply to the chargesheet within two weeks from the date of the order. The respondents were directed to take a fresh decision, after considering the reply, on whether or not to appoint an Inquiry Officer and Presenting Officer, within two weeks thereafter.
The Court made it clear that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter and that all issues remained open for consideration by the authorities in accordance with law. Pending applications, if any, were also disposed of. The order was passed in the Special Leave Petition arising out of the impugned final judgment and order dated 27 February 2026 passed by the High Court of Delhi.
The disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede relate to allegations arising from the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug bust case. The charge memorandum dated 18 August 2025 is based on the transcript of a phone call allegedly made by him after he was removed from the probe team. Wankhede had earlier approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, which had allowed his claim and directed his promotion. When the order was neither challenged nor complied with, a contempt petition was filed. The chargesheet was issued only thereafter.
Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for Wankhede, had argued before the Supreme Court that no charge was made out in the chargesheet and that the proceedings were initiated only to deny him promotion. He had highlighted that the transcript relied upon had been available for over two and a half years and had already been considered by the High Court while granting interim relief. Patwalia had pressed for quashing of the chargesheet, contending that an inquiry officer had been appointed without waiting for the petitioner’s reply.
The Supreme Court, while not inclined to quash the proceedings at this stage, intervened to ensure that Wankhede is given a fair opportunity to respond before any further steps are taken in the inquiry. The matter now stands disposed of with the directions for filing of reply and fresh consideration by the authorities.
Case Title: Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede v. Union of India & Anr.
Case No.: Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 10451/2026
Date of Order: 25 March 2026
Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alok Aradhe
Click HERE to read Order
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