Former CM Fadnavis demands NIA intervention into case pertaining to car found outside Ambani’s house

MUMBAI: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday demanded that the probe into the explosives-laden car found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was speaking in the state Legislative Assembly on the issue of the law-and-order situation in the state.

“That police official was the first to reach the spot outside Ambani’s residence instead of the personnel of the local police station and crime branch officials,” Fadnavis said. The former chief minister said the owner left the vehicle in Thane and came to Crawford Market in south Mumbai, which is close to the police Commissionerate.

“The owner of the vehicle met a person at Crawford Market. Who is that? The vehicle owner lives in Thane and the police official who was the first to reach the spot also lives in Thane,” he said.

“So many coincidences lead to suspicion and hence the probe must by handed over to the NIA,” he added.

A car containing explosive material and a threat letter was found outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia last weak.

Twenty gelatin sticks – material used in explosives — were found in the car by the bomb disposal squad, the police had said.

A handwritten note has also been recovered that addresses Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani. It has been written in English, however the language of it is Hindi. The number plate is fake and the car was stolen from another part of the city, Vikhroli, the police said.

The gelatin was not military grade but of the commercial kind that is usually used in construction, digging or mining, police sources say.