After questioning Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze for about 13-hours, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), probing the last month’s recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle from outside the Mukesh Ambani’s house, was arrested late Satuday night, NIA spokesperson said.
Vaze has been arrested under Sections 286 (Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 465 (Punishment for forgery), 473 (Making or possessing counterfeit seal), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code and 4(a)(b)(I)(attempt to cause an explosion) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
Vaze had reached the NIA’s office at Cumballa Hill in south Mumbai around 11.30 am to record his statement.
The Scorpio found parked near Ambani’s house on Carmichael Road on February 25 contained some gelatin sticks and a threat letter.
Vaze, an “encounter specialist”, has also been facing heat in the murder case of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of this Scorpio. Hiran was found dead in a creek in the Thane district on March 5.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating the Hiran murder case. It had registered an FIR against unidentified person days after Hiran’s body was found.
While recording Vaze’s statement on Saturday, the NIA called crime branch ACP Nitin Alaknure and ATS ACP Shripad Kale to share information about the investigation done so far in the cases of recovery of the SUV and the alleged murder of Hiran.
Alaknure and Kale left the NIA office after over four hours.
Vaze, accused by Hiran’s wife of involvement in her husband’s suspicious death, was shunted out of the Mumbai crime branch earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the ATS recorded the statement of the advocate who had drafted the letters for Hiran before his death claiming harassment by the police and media to the Maharashtra chief minister, home minister, and commissioners of police of Mumbai and Thane.
