Sameer Wankhede, former Regional Director of the Bureau of Narcotics Control (NCB), has filed an appeal with the Bombay High Court in response to a notice issued by the Caste Certificate Investigation Committee.

He was asked in the notice why his caste certificate should not be confiscated. On April 29, this year, the Mumbai District Caste Certificate Investigation Committee issued a notice to Wankhede, claiming that the observation of complaints and documents reveals that he (Wankhede) belongs to the Muslim religion.

Wankhede objected to the notice questioning the caste certificate.

Wankhede objected to the notice, claiming that the committee had neglected to appreciate that the proceedings before it were inquisitive rather than unfavourable.

Sameer Wankhede made news after Maharashtra’s first minister, Nawab Malik, called his caste certificate into doubt. The committee’s notice was issued in response to a complaint filed by Nawab Malik and others alleging that Wankhede’s father was a Muslim named Dawood. He argued that Wankhede did not qualify for a caste certificate.