Mumbai: Sachin Vaze, Assistant Police Inspector of the Maharashtra Police is suspended from service after his name emerged in an alleged conspiracy that involved placing explosives in a car that was found near, Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia, last month.
Earlier, a Special NIA Court sent Sachin Vaze, to 10 days custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) till March 25.
Also read: Mukesh Ambani's Antilia scare probe: Sachin Vaze remanded to NIA custody till March 25
Vaze was arrested on Saturday and produced before the Special NIA Court on Sunday in connection with the case pertaining to an abandoned van with gelatin sticks found near the home of top industrialist.
The NIA has booked Vaze in connection with the case and he is also being simultaneously investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for the mysterious death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.
Vaze, a former 'encounter specialist' of Mumbai Police, was arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Explosives Substances Act. The 49-year-old, with 69 'encounters' to his credit was suspended in 2004 over his role in the custodial death of Khawaja Yunus, a suspect in the Ghatkopar bomb blast in 2002 but was reinstated in the police last year.
Also read: Mansukh Hiren death case: Who is Sachin Vaze? The encounter specialist with Mumbai Police
The present case involved an abandoned van found with 20 gelatin sticks near Antilia, on February 25 and the subsequent death of the vehicle's owner, Mansukh Hiren on March 5.
Initially, both the cases were probed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch and later transferred to the ATS, till the Centre handed over the abandoned van case to the NIA. The two cases sparked off a nationwide political uproar.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said the top cop’s arrest is merely the start and it is necessary to investigate who are the people behind him, supporting him in the government, since the involvement of cops in crimes will shake the people's faith in the police. Demanding a narco-test on Vaze to unravel the names of the 'master-conspirators', BJP asked whether the MVA government was worried that the cop’s revelations could make problems for the ruling exemption.
