Devendra Fadnavis alleges police officer Sachin Vaze’s involvement in Mansukh Hiren’s death

The leader of the opposition in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, today made a series of sensational claims related to the Antilia bomb scare while speaking in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. Speaking in the assembly, Fadnavis alleged that the owner of the Scorpio car, which was used to plant gelatin sticks and a threat letter outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai, was in touch with a mobile phone number that is registered in the name of Mumbai Police officer and ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Vaze.

“The person who had lodged a missing complaint of the car that was found outside Ambani’s house had made some calls to a number and had received phone calls from that number. When investigated, the number was found to be registered to Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze. The first conversation between the two took place on June 8. The records show another call was made on July 24. Similarly, many such calls have taken place between the two over the last several months,” Fadnavis said.

The car was owned by Mansukh Hiren, who had alleged that his car was stolen from Mulund-Airoli link road. Hiren had also filed a police complaint about the missing car. Hiren was found dead in a creek in Mumbai on March 5.

Fuelling the mystery, Fadnavis further added, “Sachin Vaze was the first police officer to reach the spot and then he was appointed as the Investigation Officer (IO). Three days ago, he was removed as the IO and I fail to understand why he was removed.” Fadnavis asked how Vaze reached the spot before the local police.

Earlier, Fadnavis demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case on Friday, 5 March. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe into the explosives-laden vehicle found abandoned near Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s house, intensifying the political row which had erupted last week after the death of the owner of the vehicle triggered demands from the opposition in Maharashtra for bringing in the central agency.