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An FIR has been registered against NCB Zonal Head Amit Ghawate, NCB officer Akash Malik, and Belapur Anti-Narcotics Cell officer Sandip Nigade after Navin Gurunath Chichkar’s death.
Chichkar’s wife has alleged that the three officers pressured her husband and family to pay Rs 10-15 crore. File pic
A serious allegation of extortion and harassment has surfaced against senior officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and a Navi Mumbai police officer, following the suicide of a businessman earlier this year. An FIR has been registered against NCB Zonal Head Amit Ghawate, NCB officer Akash Malik, and Belapur Anti-Narcotics Cell officer Sandip Nigade, based on a complaint filed by Kiran Chichkar at the NRI Coastal Police Station in Navi Mumbai.
In her complaint, Chichkar has alleged that the three officers pressured her husband and family to pay Rs 10-15 crore, threatening to implicate their children in false cases if the demand was not met. She claimed her husband had approached multiple authorities seeking relief from the alleged harassment.
On April 24, 2025, he died by suicide at his office. According to the FIR, he left behind a note blaming sustained pressure from the officers for his decision to take the extreme step. Police have invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to abetment and criminal intimidation. The investigation is currently underway.
The case is closely linked to an earlier NCB probe into an alleged drug network involving Navin Gurunath Chichkar. According to enforcement sources familiar with the case, Chichkar had been on the radar of central agencies for his suspected role in coordinating cross-border drug trafficking operations, with alleged links stretching to Southeast Asia. He was reportedly detained abroad and later deported to India, where investigators claimed to have uncovered financial trails and assets linked to narcotics proceeds.
Responding to this reporter, NCB Zonal Head Amit Ghawate has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the agency acted strictly within the legal framework.
He said NCB Mumbai had seized cocaine and other drugs from Belapur in January 2025 and registered a case under the NDPS Act in July 2025. According to him, Chichkar was deported from Malaysia and arrested as part of the probe into what he described as an international syndicate. Ghawate further said that nine arrests were made in the case, with only one accused granted interim bail on humanitarian grounds. He added that financial investigations led to the freezing of properties worth Rs 10.6 crore, later confirmed by SAFEMA Mumbai. “The entire investigation was conducted as per law. No illegal action was taken,” he said.
Observers say the case also raises a larger concern within law enforcement circles—FIRs and counter-allegations in high-stakes investigations could create hesitation among officers handling organised crime and narcotics networks. Senior officials often work under pressure in cases involving powerful syndicates, and the fear of personal legal consequences may impact decision-making on the ground. At the same time, accountability remains crucial to prevent misuse of authority. How agencies strike a balance between protecting officers acting in good faith and ensuring action against genuine misconduct will be closely watched as this case progresses.
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March 28, 2026, 6:49 PM IST
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