Antilia bomb scare: NIA seizes Mercedes driven by vaze; recovers number plate of explosive’s laden SUV, cash

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case of an explosives-laden Scorpio SUV founder near billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai last month, seized a black Mercedes Benz car driven by arrested police officer Sachin Waze on Tuesday, March 16.

The anti-terror agency said it recovered Rs 5 lakh in cash, a note-counting machine, petrol, diesel and some clothes from the vehicle and licence plate of the SUV from the car.

“NIA today seized a black Mercedes-Benz car. We have recovered the number plate that was on the Scorpio car, over Rs 5 Lakh in cash, a note-counting machine, and some clothes…Sachin Waze used to drive this car… the ownership of the car is under investigation,” senior NIA officer Anil Shukla told reporters.

The Mercedes was recovered from a car-parking near the Mumbai Crime Branch office close to the Crawford market.

An NIA team has also conducted searches at Mumbai Police Crime Branch’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) office on the fourth floor of the new police building and seized a cellphone and IPad belonging to Waze in addition to some documents.

So far, seven people of the Mumbai Police have been questioned by the NIA. These include Nitin Alakanure, ACP, Milind Kathe, PI, Riyazuddin Qazi, API, and Prakash Oval, PSI.

A Scorpio SUV with explosives and a threat letter to Mukesh and Nita Ambani was found abandoned near Ambani’s residential building on 25 February. The car was traced to a Thane-based auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiren, who had filed a stolen report with the police on 17 February.

On 5 March, Hiren was inexplicably found dead near Mumbai. His wife alleged that the first investigating officer in the case, Sachin Vaze had used the car for four months and accused the officer for having a role in Hiren’s demise.

Days after taking over the case from the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad, the NIA last week arrested Sachin Waze for his alleged role in placing the SUV near Ambani’s residence. He was questioned by the agency for hours on Sunday.

The NIA also alleged on Monday that Waze seized CCTV footage of his housing complex and erased all his footages.