How an Assistant Police Inspector Afforded Mercedes, Volvo and More

An Assistant Police Inspector in Mumbai, Sachin Vaze, has found himself at the centre of a high‑profile courtroom battle over the source of his lavish spending. The Bombay High Court, hearing a petition by the NIA to cancel Vaze’s bail, queried the feasibility of an officer with a monthly salary of roughly ₹90,000 owning or repeatedly using a black Mercedes, a BMW, a Volvo and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

NIA counsel presented multiple witness accounts stating Vaze travelled in the Mercedes and ordered his entourage to keep phones switched off during journeys. The bench demanded registration proof, which the agency supplied, leading the judges to remark that they had never witnessed an Assistant Police Inspector cruising in such a vehicle. A list of five luxury cars allegedly used by Vaze was also shown to the court.

Further compounding the mystery, NIA claimed Vaze stayed for about 100 days at a seven‑star hotel in South Mumbai, an expense seemingly beyond the reach of his modest police pay. The court stressed that Vaze’s financial position, patterns of conduct and professional history must be examined to assess the merit of accusations ranging from extortion and money‑laundering to the 2021 Antilia bomb‑threat case. The agency suggested the high‑end automobiles could have facilitated intimidation tactics linked to alleged illegal activities. The next session will likely focus on detailed asset verification and income analysis.