Mumbai: In an explosive allegation, former CM of Maharashtra and Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded the arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze in case of the death of businessman Mansukh Hiren.

Quoting the statement of Mansukh Hiren's wife, Fadvanis said Vaze (who was investigating officer in case of recovery of explosives near Mukesh Ambani's house) was in possession of the suspected car in which explosive were found for 4 months.

Fadnavis also told the House that Hiren's wife had informed the police that Hiren had been with Waze for three days on February 26, 27 and 28 before his death. Fadnavis also read out Hiren's wife's letter to the police in the House on Tuesday. He also questioned, "Why he is not being arrested under Section 201 of IPC (destroying evidence)? Who is defending him?"

Also read: Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case: Mystery continues to shroud over death of Mansukh Hiren

Fadnavis earlier had demanded that the case be transferred to the NIA expressing suspicion over the investigation given Vaze's involvement. The government and opposition scuffled over the issue of transfer with the Home Minister asking if the opposition leader had a complaint against Vaze who had been investigating the fake TRP case.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the case of the suspicious van that was found near Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai. The NIA in a statement said, “NIA has received orders from MHA, GOI for investigation of case FIR 35/2020 registered at PS Gamdevi on February 25. This case relates to the recovery of explosives from a Mahindra Scorpio parked at Carmichael Road, Mumbai. NIA is in the process of re-registering the case.”

Also read: Maharashtra: Mansukh Hiren death case transferred to NIA

WHO IS SACHIN VAZE

Sachin Vaze is Assistant Police Inspector (API) with the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch-CID of the Mumbai Police. Known as ‘encounter specialist’, Vaze is also probing the high-profile cases such as the Anvay Naik suicide case linked with TV anchor-editor Arnab Goswami, another scam involving Dilip Chhabria and casting couch racket in Bollywood.

The 49-year-old Vaze joined the police in 1990 as a sub-inspector and was posted in the Naxalite-infested Gadchiroli district first and then transferred to Thane.

When he entered the service of Mumbai Police, he became one of the “encounter specialists” and eradicated many gangsters belonging to the groups of Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan. He has also been suspended multiple times during his service.