Mumbai: Trouble mounted for suspended cop Sachin Vaze after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized his car. According to NIA, a cash of Rs 5 lakhs, clothes and a cash counting machine was recovered from the vehicle. Moreover, the NIA stated that it has recovered the same number plate that was used on the suspicious van car outside Antilia from the car which was parked at the Mumbai Police HQ.

On Monday, the NIA seized a laptop, mobile phones, his iPad, and some documents from Vaze. The central investigating agency has also reported statements of 5 Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) and two Crime Branch personnel so far. The cop, who has been suspended for his alleged involvement in the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani's residence continues to remain in NIA custody till March 25.

In another development on Tuesday, News agency ANI quoted NIA as saying, “In the CCTV footage, Sachin Waze could be seen with his head covered with a large handkerchief so that no one could identify him. He was wearing an oversized kurta-pajama, and not PPE coverall, in an attempt to mask his body language & face.”

NIA also said, “A laptop was seized from the cabin of Sachin Waze in a raid day before yesterday but all the data in it was already deleted. He was asked for his cellphone and he had said that he had dropped it somewhere. But the fact is that he had intentionally thrown it away.”

Vaze came under scanner after the death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, who came forward as the person who had possession of the van before it was found from outside Antilia, residence of Reliance Head, Mukesh Ambani. Hiran in his complaint said that his car was stolen from his residence before he was interrogated multiple times, including by Vaze’s department.

10 days later after the van carrying gelatin sticks was found at Antilia, Mansukh was found dead on March 5 in Thane and the police said it was a suicide. His wife, however, said she suspected the Vaze’s role in the death, kicking off a chain of events that eventually led to Vaze being arrested by the NIA.

The ruling MVA government in Maharashtra and the opposition BJP have been trading allegations of wrongdoing and conspiracy over the case from past few days.