Tag: Ambani Bomb Scare Case

  • CBI probe against me illegal, even Kasab got benefit of rule of law: Ex-minister Anil Deshmukh to HC

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh told the Bombay High Court on Friday that the ongoing CBI inquiry against him over corruption charges was illegal and in breach of legal procedures, and said even 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab got the benefit of the rule of law.

    Deshmukh’s counsel, senior advocate Amit Desai, told the HC that though the CBI inquiry was initiated following a high court order in April, the central agency did not seek prior sanction from the Maharashtra government to prosecute the NCP leader, who was at the time a public servant.

    This absence of sanction made the inquiry against Deshmukh, on the charges of corruption and misconduct, “illegal,” Desai said.

    “Can you bypass the requirement of law? The State could have been approached (for sanction). Therefore, the entire enquiry is illegal,” Desai said.

    “We may be carried away by emotion but we cannot bypass the procedure and the rule of law. Even a person like Kasab got the benefit of the rule of law in this country. Everyone in this country gets the benefit of the process of law,” he said.

    Desai was arguing before a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NM Jamadar that was presiding over a plea filed by Deshmukh challenging the FIR registered by the CBI against him in the aftermath of corruption allegations made against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    In April this year, a bench led by HC chief justice Dipankar Datta had directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry against Deshmukh, who resigned from the state cabinet after the order.

    This inquiry was to be based upon a complaint lodged at the Malabar Hill police station in Mumbai by a lawyer, Jaishri Patil.

    In her complaint seeking a probe against both Deshmukh and Singh, Patil had also attached a copy of the letter written by the IPS officer to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray making allegations against the NCP leader.

    The CBI subsequently lodged an FIR against Deshmukh on charges of corruption and misconduct.

    The agency said in its FIR that Deshmukh had knowledge of the reinstatement of former assistant police inspector Sachin Waze (who is in jail in a criminal case), and that as the home minister he used to exercise undue interference in transfers and postings of state police officers.

    On Friday, advocate Desai told the HC that though the preliminary inquiry was in accordance with the HC order, the CBI breached the process of law in registering the FIR against Deshmukh.

    Desai said section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act mandated that the police or any other investigating agency procure a prior sanction to prosecute a public servant.

    The bench, however, pointed out that section 17A protected an officer’s conduct that was in discharge of his or her official duties.

    It said the CBI had said in its affidavit filed in the case that by allegedly indulging in corruption, and interfering in transfers, Deshmukh had not been discharging his official duties.

    Desai, however, argued that according to the CBI’s FIR, all of Deshmukh’s acts, including his knowledge of Waze’s reinstatement, were in discharge of his public duty.

    “According to your (CBI’s) own FIR, I was acting in my official position. Then wouldn’t the bar of 17A apply?” Desai said.

    He further said at mere knowledge did not constitute an offence.

    Desai said the FIR was based merely on “whispers” and allegations.

    “Allegations are made against anybody and everybody. If every allegation is to be believed then there will be total anarchy,” Desai stated.

    The HC will continue hearing the plea on July 5.

  • ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case: Ex-cop Pradeep Sharma sent in judicial custody till July 12

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A special NIA court here on Monday remanded former ‘encounter specialist’ police officer Pradeep Sharma in judicial custody till July 12 in the case of an explosives-laden vehicle found near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani and the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

    Sharma was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week.

    He was on Monday produced before the court which sent him in judicial custody till July 12 as no further remand was sought by the probe agency.

    Two other accused in the case, Santosh Shelar and Anand Jadhav, who were arrested by the NIA from suburban Malad on June 11, were also sent in judicial custody till July 12.

    The central agency had earlier arrested police officers Sachin Waze, Riyazuddin Kazi and Sunil Mane, following which they were dismissed from service.

    The NIA had also arrested former police constable Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gor in connection with the case.

    Sharma had allegedly helped Waze in destroying evidence in the case, sources earlier said, adding that he was involved in hatching the conspiracy and planning, as well as executing the murder of Hiran with the help of his men.

    An explosives-laden SUV was found abandoned near Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ in south Mumbai on February 25 this year.

    Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who had claimed that he was in possession of the vehicle, was found dead in a creek in Mumbra on March 5.

  • Ambani bomb scare case: NIA produces Sachin Waze’s aid Riyaz Kazi before court

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested Riyaz Kazi, an associate of suspended Mumbai Police API Sachin Waze and produced him before a holiday court in connection with the Antilia bomb scare and the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren.

    As per sources, the ex-CIU officer Qazi faces charges of destroying important evidence.

    Kazi was transferred out of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch earlier in March. Sources said that Kazi destroyed vital evidence related to the case such as a fake number plate and, DigitalALSO READ | Param Bir vs Anil Deshmukh: Former Maharashtra Home Minister’s assistants called for questionin

    Video Recorder (DVR) of the Society of Sachin Waze’s residence. He was seen in several garages where he got fake number plates made and later confiscated the DVRs from all the garages and destroyed them.

    Earlier, on Friday, the NIA had recorded the statement of Mahesh Shetty, a bar owner who is close to Sachin Waze, in connection with the above-mentioned case.

    Waze, who was Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) and later transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at Mumbai Police Headquarters after his name came up in Mansukh Hiren’s death case, was sent to NIA custody till March 25.

    On Friday Waze was produced before a special NIA court that sent him to judicial custody till April 23 in connection with his role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle near Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s house Antilia in Mumbai on February 25 and Mansukh Hiren death case.

    Hiren, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives materials outside Anitilia, was found dead on March 5 in Thane.

    Kazi was shunted out of the Mumbai Crime Branch last month, the official said.