The Delhi High Court on Friday revived disciplinary proceedings against IRS officer Sameer Wankhede in connection with the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug seizure case. The Court set aside an order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which had earlier quashed the departmental action.
A Division Bench of Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Amit Mahajan allowed the petition filed by the Union of India. While pronouncing the verdict, the Bench briefly stated, “The petition is allowed.”
Background of the Dispute
The CAT had annulled the charge memorandum issued to Wankhede. It held that the initiation of departmental proceedings suffered from procedural impropriety, malice in law, and abuse of process.
Wankhede argued before the Tribunal that the department relied on the same allegations that formed the basis of a criminal case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). That case arose from the Cordelia cruise ship incident.
He further contended that the CBI case relied on a Special Enquiry Team (SET) report. However, courts had earlier found that enquiry vitiated because Gyaneshwar Singh participated in the SET despite holding a supervisory role in the matter.
Charge Memorandum and CAT’s Observations
The authorities issued the charge memorandum on August 18, 2025. They relied on a call transcript between Wankhede and a former Deputy Legal Advisor. Notably, Wankhede himself had placed that transcript on record before the Bombay High Court as part of his defence.
While allowing his plea, the CAT emphasised his “exceptional career profile.” It noted that he had earned several commendations during service. The Tribunal concluded that the department had acted with a predetermined mindset. According to the CAT, the authorities showed undue haste and failed to apply their mind properly.
Consequently, the Tribunal held that the proceedings reflected an intent to penalise the officer regardless of the merits. On that basis, it quashed the disciplinary action.
High Court’s Ruling
However, the Delhi High Court disagreed with the Tribunal’s reasoning. It found merit in the Union’s challenge and set aside the CAT’s order. As a result, the disciplinary proceedings against Wankhede now stand revived.
Case Title: Union of India v. Sameer Wankhede
