Sushree Mohanty
The Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has filed its response to the bail application requested by the suspended Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze.
The response has been documented in a Thane Court, as Vaze continues to stay in remand under the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
While Vaze was detained by the National Investigation Agency in association with the Antilla bomb threat, he was also investigated for the Mansukh Hiran’s death case by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad.
As per the reports, the Anti-terror squad is set to request for the custody of Sachin Vaze for further examination.
The Court has listed the matter for further hearing.
Addressing the correspondents outside the court, Sachin Vaze’s lawyer, Arati Kalekar said that “there is no issue of custody in the matter and if there is, we will converse with our client about it. Sachin Vaze’s sister has said there is a lot of unsettling influence where she resides. Court has issued certain guidelines which we will know by the evening.”
Previously the court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by Vaze on the grounds that Hiren’s wife had named the Mumbai Police official in her complaint and that there existed certain evidence which directly pointed at Vaze prompting the need for additional cross examination in the matter.
Mansukh Hiran was the owner of the said vehicle in question, (a SUV) , and had been discovered dead under mysterious conditions.
Vaze was detained by the Investigation Agency under Sections 286, 465, 473, 506(2), 120 B of the Indian Penal Code and 4(a)(b)(I) of the Explosive Substances Act 1908 for his supposed contribution and association in an explosives-loaded car being parked close to Mukesh Ambani’s residential place in Mumbai.
Opposing Political Party Leader, Devendra Fadnavis had submitted a list of Call Details Record of Vaze asserting that he was in touch with Hiran for a long time now.
However, Hiran’s wife has claimed that the vehicle in question was under the ownership of Vaze since.
The Investigation Agency furthers stated that the CCTV clips from the site shows that Sachin Vaze wore oversized clothes in an attempt to hide his identity when the explosives-loaded vehicle was parked close to Antilla, (the residence of Mukesh Ambani).
The incident took place when the Mumbai Police was informed about a vehicle parked outside the residential home of billionaire Ambani.
The Police arrived at the spot promptly with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the said vehicle (a green Scorpio) were spotted by officials.
The vehicle was stacked with gelatine sticks which were in reality certain explosives and the vehicle was towed away by the bomb expert squad.
A preliminary examination from the CCTV revealed that the vehicle had been parked around the area since 1 AM on the previous night and also a letter was found in the vehicle.
Subsequently Mansukh Hiren, the alleged owner of the vehicle was discovered dead at the Kalwa spring – with police asserting that he died by committing suicide.
Refuting to the assertions made by the police, Hiren’s wife affirmed that her husband had left home to meet an official from the Kandivali police branch, and didn’t return back.
Moreover, post-mortem results of the deceased showed a few scraped marks all over his face and a fabric stuffed into his mouth, prompting an examination into his death.
While the National Investigation Agency is examining the bomb threat case, the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad is investigating Mansukh Hiran’s supposed homicide case.
Additionally, Commissioner of Police, Param Bir Singh has been transferred because of breaches in the examination procedure.