Bombay High Court Dismisses Two Sessions Judges for Corruption and Drug Charges
Mumbai, 6th October 2025: The Disciplinary Committee of the Bombay High Court has ordered the dismissal of two sessions judges with immediate effect from October 1. Satara District Sessions Judge Dhananjay Nikam has been removed on charges of bribery, while Irfan Sheikh, serving at Palghar District Sessions Court, was dismissed for drug consumption and alleged drug smuggling.
Judge Sheikh’s case has attracted widespread attention due to his alleged involvement in the high-profile Cordelia Cruise case of October 2021, during which Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
RTI activist Ketan Tirodkar had submitted a petition to the Bombay High Court alleging that Sheikh, who was present on the cruise, consumed drugs while in custody of seized evidence and was subsequently taken to a hospital secretly to avoid detection. Blood and urine tests conducted during his treatment reportedly confirmed the presence of cocaine.
Tirodkar’s petition also claimed that while working in the NDPS court at Ballard Pier, Sheikh allegedly consumed drugs seized by the NCB and shared them with friends from the Bollywood industry. The Bombay High Court’s disciplinary committee has acted on these findings, resulting in Sheikh’s dismissal from service.
“The action reflects the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining ethical standards and accountability among judicial officers,” said a senior official of the Bombay High Court.
While both judges have been dismissed, questions have been raised about why Sheikh was not subjected to criminal proceedings similar to other accused in the Cordelia Cruise case. The matter continues to spark debate about accountability and oversight within the judicial system.
Satara District Sessions Judge Dhananjay Nikam was dismissed on separate charges of bribery, marking another step by the High Court to address corruption within the state judiciary.
