New Delhi (26.03.2026): The Supreme Court granted interim relief to Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer Sameer Wankhede in his plea challenging disciplinary proceedings initiated against him in relation to the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug bust case.

The central government approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the CAT order passed on January 19, quashing the 'Charge Memorandum' issued to Wankhede on August 18, 2025 by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

Wankhede had filed an original application before CAT challenging the disciplinary inquiry against him based on the CBIC chargesheet. The chargesheet alleged that Wankhede sought confidential information from the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) legal adviser, Japan Babu, after the end of his tenure at NCB and attempted to influence the investigation's direction to a predetermined outcome. On February 27, the Delhi High Court set aside the CAT order.

The chargesheet was filed three years after the alleged incident and transcripts for the phone call with Babu were submitted two years later.

However, the bench took note of the procedural irregularities flagged by Wankhede, particularly regarding appointment of an inquiry officer on March 7 without allowing him sufficient opportunity to reply to the chargesheet.

The court ordered, "The petitioner is permitted to file a reply within two weeks from today. Thereafter, a decision shall be taken by the respondent within two weeks on whether to appoint an inquiry officer."