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Tag: Sachin Waze

  • Sachin Waze case: MP Navneet Rana accuses Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant of threatening her

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Amravati MP Navneet Rana on Monday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant of threatening her after she raised the Sachin Waze issue in the House.

    She also sought police action against the south Mumbai MP.

    After she raised the issue, Sawant threatened her in the Lok Sabha’s lobby, saying “I will see how you roam in Maharashtra,” Rana alleged.

    The former Union minister also threatened that she will be put in jail, she claimed.

    Rana, an independent MP, also said that she had in the past received death and acid attack threats on the Shiv Sena’s letterhead and also over phone.

    ALSO READ | Param Bir Singh an important weapon of for opposition now: Sanjay Raut

    “The way Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant has threatened me, it is not only my insult, but the insult of all the women of the country. Hence, I demand strict action against Sawant,” she added.

    Rana raised the Waze issue in the Lok Sabha as the BJP demanded resignation of the Maharashtra government headed by Uddhav Thackeray in the wake of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s claim that the state’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh set a Rs 100-crore collection target for the police every month.

    Singh had also claimed that Deshmukh asked Waze to help with collection of money.

    Rana claimed that Thackeray had spoken to then Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking reinstatement of Waze who was under suspension following the Khwaja Yunus custodial death case.

    “The then chief minister flatly refused. But when the current chief minister (Thackeray) took charge, the first decision he took was to reinstate Waze. Because of the chief minister such things are happening in Maharashtra,” she said.

    The NIA is probing Waze’s alleged role in placing an explosives-laden SUV outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25.

  • Param Bir Singh letter: Anil Deshmukh must resign, says Shivraj Chouhan as he lashes out at Uddhav government

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh should resign after a former Mumbai police commissioner accused him of corruption.

    Chouhan said all records of corruption had been broken in Maharashtra under the present government there, adding that the alliance led by Uddhav Thackeray was stalling development.

    “The way allegations are being levelled, skeletons are coming out of the cupboard in a sequence. This is the limit of corruption. The concerned minister must resign immediately,” Chouhan told reporters here when queried about the upheaval currently underway in the western state.

    After the arrest of Mumbai police assistant inspector Sachin Waze in an NIA probe in connection with the recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s home, the state government had transferred Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    Singh, in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleged that home minister Deshmukh had asked his officials to “collect” Rs 100 crore per month, over half of it from the 1,750-odd restaurants, bars and hotels in the megapolis.

  • MVA discusses Deshmukh’s future; Julio Ribeiro refuses to probe Param Bir’s letter

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut separately met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Sunday evening in view of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    The meetings took place hours after Pawar told reporters that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh, an NCP leader, amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    Singh has claimed Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

    Deshmukh had denied these allegations as baseless.

    However, what transpired during the meetings at Pawar’s residence in Delhi could not be known.

    Earlier in the day, Raut told reporters in Mumbai that allegations of Singh against Deshmukh and the Sachin Waze episode have dented the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Waze was arrested by the NIA, which is probing the recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle from outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month and also the alleged murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of that SUV.

    Raut said all allies- the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- need to introspect if their “feet are on the ground”.

    “Anil Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision on him. We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” Pawar told reporters.

    Jayant Patil, who is also the state Water Resources Minister, had said that the Delhi visit was planned three days ago.

    “The Pandharpur Assembly bypoll is scheduled next month. Ajit Pawar and I decided to meet party workers in Solapur district to know their views over the selection of candidate and the party strategy, and then meet Pawar saheb in Delhi with the feedback before returning to Mumbai,” he said.

    “Accordingly, both of us are in Pandharpur to discuss issues related to the bypoll with party workers,” he said. The Pandharpur bypoll is scheduled to be held on April 17. It was necessitated due to the death of NCP MLA Bharat Bhalke last year.

    Meanwhile, Congress sources said Central leaders of the party are in touch with leaders in Maharashtra on the developments regarding Deshmukh.

    A Congress leader told PTI on Sunday night that the CM was in touch with all prominent leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in view of Singh’s letter.

    “I don’t think Anil Deshmukh will be asked to resign, as it will amount to accepting the allegations made against him,” he said.

    Meanwhile, former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro on Sunday rejected NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s suggestion that he should probe Singh’s claim that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh asked suspended police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.

    ALSO READ | Won’t be fair to comment as NCP chief has spoken: Congress on graft charges against Deshmukh

    “I am not available. Nobody (in state government) has contacted me. And in any case even if they contact me, I am unavailable,” Ribeiro told PTI when asked about Pawar’s suggestion.

    “I am 92 years old. Nobody goes around doing this work at the age of 92. If the inquiry is against the home minister of Maharashtra, then Mr Pawar should make it because he is the head of the (ruling) party,” Ribeiro said.

    Ribeiro is a former Mumbai police commissioner, who eventually became the chief of Gujarat and Punjab police and was later named India’s ambassador to Romania.

    “Why should a retired police officer be asked to do this,” he said.

    Earlier in the day, Pawar told reporters in Delhi that he would suggest Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to seek Ribeiros help to investigate the claims made by Singh.

    In a letter to Thackeray, Param Bir Singh alleged that Anil Deshmukh instructed suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month for him.

    Pawar’s comments came during a media briefing at Delhi amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    The allegations leveled by Singh against Dehsmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Pawar said.

    Singh has claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly for him from bars and hotels.

    Pawar indicated that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter soon and also action against Deshmukh.

    “We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” Pawar said.

    Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision, he added.

    Pawar said neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

    The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh’s letter.

    ALSO READ | BJP workers hold protests for resignation of Maharashtra Home minister Anil Deshmukh

    “I would suggest Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh,” he said.

    Ribeiro rejected the idea, saying he is unavailable for this kind of work.

    “I am 92 years old. Nobody goes around doing this work at the age of 92. If the inquiry is against the home minister of Maharashtra, then Mr Pawar should make it because he is the head of the (ruling) party,” Ribeiro told PTI.

    Pawar said Singh had complained to him aboutpolitical interference in police department.

    He said Singh had spoken of reports about his transfer, saying it would be an injustice to him.

    Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

    There is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh’s allegations, Pawar said.

    Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.

    In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a “collection target” from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut admitted that the allegations made by Singh against Deshmukh and about the Waze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Raut saio all the MVA allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.

    Former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government amid allegations of corruption leveled by Singh against Deshmukh.

    “How were important postings and cases given to Waze without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    ALSO READ | Allegations against Deshmukh: Sharad Pawar trying to save Maha govt, says Fadnavis

    “As the architect of the MVA government, Pawar is trying to save it, Fadnavis said and reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations made by Singh.”

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh. But how is it possible that he got important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” Fadnavis said.

    Former MP Sanjay Nirupam said his Congress party must take a stand on Singh’s claim that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in various parts of the state demanding Deshmukh’s resignation over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square in Nagpur and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was organised by BJP Yuva Morcha wokers outside Deshmukh’s residence in Nagpur.

  • Allegations against Deshmukh: Sharad Pawar trying to save Maha govt, says Fadnavis

    By PTI
    NAGPUR: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in view of allegations of corruption levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis contested Pawar’s assertion that neither chief minister Uddhav Thackeray nor Deshmukh was responsible for reinstating controversial police officer Sachin Waze in the Mumbai police force last year.

    Days after he was shunted as Mumbai police commissioner, Singh wrote a letter to the CM claiming Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, had asked Sachin Waze and other police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

    “Waze was given important cases and also got key posts in the police department.

    Is it possible without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis questioned.

    The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly also questioned Pawar’s statement that the latter would suggest the CM to seek retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Singh.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    “As the architect of the MVA government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress), Pawar is trying to save the government.

    Pawar’s press conference today is an attempt to save the government.

    The presser is just a window dressing.

    Actually, it is an attempt to move away from truth,” Fadnavis alleged.

    He reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations raised by Singh.

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh.

    But how is it possible that Waze was given important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” “Pawar should say that Waze was reinstated on the instructions of the CM and the home minister, and with their blessings, he was given key cases and postings,” the former chief minister claimed.

    Fadnavis also said how could Ribeiro, who retired 15 years ago, can conduct an “inquiry of Param Bir Singh and the home minister.

    Will he have that authority and can he conduct a fair probe? Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in Nagpur demanding resignation of Deshmukh over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was also organised by workers of the BJP Yuva Morcha outside the residence of Deshmukh here.

    Meanwhile, Fadnavis claimed that allegations were raised earlier against state Home department by a top police officer.

    “Param Bir Singh is not the first person to raise such allegations.

    Earlier, a report was submitted by then Maharashtra DGP Subodh Jaiswal about a racket involving touts in transferring police officials in exchange of money, but the state government didn’t take any action on that report.

    Jaiswal had submitted the report containing full transcript to the chief minister and the home minister via the then commissioner of Intelligence,” he said.

    Subsequently, Jaiswal opted out of an important posting as the DGP and went on a Central deputation because the state government did not initiate any inquiry on the report submitted by him, Fadnavis said, adding that rather action was taken against the then state “Commissioner of Intelligence” Rashmi Shukla.

    “The current situation wouldn’t have arose had the state government acted on the report of Jaiswal and Shukla,” he said.

    Fadnavis also demanded that officials and other persons who had used vehicles that were found possession of Waze be investigated.

  • NCP chief Sharad Pawar says Param Bir Singh’s claims serious; decision on Anil Deshmukh on Monday

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who is facing corruption allegations by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh.

    Pawar’s comments came during a media briefing at Delhi amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    The allegations leveled by Singh against Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Pawar said.

    Singh has claimed Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    ALSO READ | Letter from Param Bir Singh sent via unofficial email id without signature: Uddhav’s office

    Pawar suggested that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter and also action against Deshmukh.

    Pawar said neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

    The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh’s letter.

    “I would suggest Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh,” he said.

    It was not clear if Ribeiro is willing to be roped in.

    “We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” he said.

    Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision, he added.

    Pawar said Singh had complained to him aboutpolitical interference in police department.

    He said Singh had spoken of reports about his transfer, saying it would be an injustice to him.

    Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

    There is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh’s allegations, Pawar said.

    Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.

    ALSO READ: Param Bir Singh letter bomb – Full text of former Mumbai top cop’s letter to Maharashtra CM

    In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a “collection target” from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut admitted that the allegations made by Singh against Deshmukh and about the Waze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Raut saio all the MVA allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.

    Former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government amid allegations of corruption leveled by Singh against Deshmukh.

    “How were important postings and cases given to Waze without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    “As the architect of the MVA government, Pawar is trying to save it, Fadnavis said and reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations made by Singh.

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh.

    But how is it possible that he got important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” Fadnavis said.

    Former MP Sanjay Nirupam said his Congress party must take a stand on Singh’s claim that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in various parts of the state demanding Deshmukh’s resignation over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square in Nagpur and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was organised by BJP Yuva Morcha wokers outside Deshmukh’s residence in Nagpur.

  • Security scare to Ambanis: NIA likely to take over Mansukh Hiren death case

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Amid intense opposition pressure on the Maharashtra government, the NIA is likely to take over the probe of Mansukh Hiren death case that is linked to the bomb scare outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence.

    The central agency is already investigating the case of explosive-laden SUV being found near Antilia last month and had arrested encounter specialist Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze in this connection.

    Since the two cases are interlinked, opposition BJP has been demanding that the Hiren death case should also be handed over to the NIA. Waze, alleged to be involved in both cases, is currently suspended.

    Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh met NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Friday and briefed him about the developments related to the two cases. Deshmukh, whose handling of the entire affair has come under scrutiny, said the police would cooperate with the NIA in the entire case.

    “NIA and ATS (Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad) both are probing the case. Whoever is guilty will be punished… Necessary action will be taken by the state government after the NIA completes its probe,” he said.

    Two senior NIA officials Inspector General Anil Shukla and Superintendent of Police Vikram Khalate met the new Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale on Friday afternoon.

    ALSO READ | Ambani security scare: Waze, Hiran seen meeting on the day Scorpio was ‘stolen’

    Also, a forensic team from Pune reached Mumbai on Friday to investigate the vehicles, shirt, bottles etc. seized by the NIA team.

    Meanwhile, a Thane sessions court denied relief to Waze and adjourned his anticipatory bail application filed in connection with Hiren’s death for hearing on March 30.

    A special NIA court in Mumbai also rejected his plea to meet his lawyers privately while in NIA custody. The agency told the court that the officer was not cooperating in investigation.

    Waze is in NIA custody till March 25. The ATS has also demanded his custody.

    As per Waze’s call records and CCTV footage obtained by the ATS, the officer met Hiren twice before the bomb scare incident.

    CCTV footage recovered from a spot near CSMT showed that the two had met on February 17, the day Hiren’s SUV was allegedly stolen, an ATS official said.

    Waze and Hiren came separately, sat in a Mercedes (which has since been seized by the NIA) for about 10 minutes and then left. The ATS suspects that Hiren handed over the SUV’s keys to  Waze during this meeting, sources said. 

  • ‘Marathi Manoos’ agenda evident in Hemant Nagrale’s selection as Mumbai top cop

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has been pitching the son of the soil Marathi manoos agenda while appointing top administrative and police officials in the state.

    After the arrest of API Sachin Waze, Thackeray shunted out Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and brought back the DG of Maharashtra Police, Hemant Nagrale into the fold.

    Another Marathi, Vishwas Nagare Patil was earlier appointed Joint Police Commissioner (law and order), while Milind Bharambe became Joint Commissioner (crime). Maharashtra’s chief secretary Sitaram Kunte is also a Marathi manoos.

    Before Nagrale was appointed Police Commissioner, the NCP had almost zeroed in on Rajnish Seth for the post.

    “But the CM overruled and insisted Marathi manoos Nagrale be the man for the job. When Singh was chosen earlier, Thackeray was reluctant. But NCP chief Sharad Pawar insisted on him. Thackeray is keen on the Marathi manoos concept, which helps him expand his party base,” said a source.

    Sanjay Pandey, Maharashtra’s senior-most cop, had slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for ending his career.

    He had said he was the senior-most and still not appointed commissioner.

    He was given the insignificant posting of head of Maharashtra state security cooperation. In a complaint to Thackeray, Pandey had said injustice had been done to him.

    Surendra Jhondale, professor of political science at Mumbai University, said Shiv Sena was born with the Marathi manoos agenda. Now that they are in the government, they are pursuing it more aggressively.

    “But Thackeray is also checking out the efficiency and uprightness of the officers while appointing them in crucial posts. This government is constantly fighting with the powerful government at the Centre. So Thackeray and Pawar need trusted lieutenants who will not succumb to Delhi’s pressure,” said Jondhale.

  • Ambani security scare: Waze, Hiran seen meeting on the day Scorpio was ‘stolen’

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: CCTV footage shows that suspended police officer Sachin Waze and deceased businessman Mansukh Hiran had met on February 17, the day a Scorpio in Hiran’s possession was `stolen’, an official of the Maharashtra ATS said on Friday.

    The same Scorpio was found with gelatin sticks inside near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house on February 25.

    The Anti-Terrorism Squad, which is probing Hiran’s suspicious death, has recovered CCTV footage of a spot near Chhhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai which showed Waze and Hiran sitting in a Mercedes, the official said.

    Incidentally, the NIA, which is probing the recovery of the explosives-laden SUV, seized the same Mercedes car, allegedly being used by Waze, after arresting him.

    The CCTV footage showed that Hiran and Waze were in the car for about 10 minutes.

    Hiran had claimed that on February 17 while he was heading for south Mumbai from his house in Thane, the steering of the Scorpio jammed, so he left it on Mulund-Airoli road and proceeded in a cab.

    Next day he found the SUV was missing, he said.

    The CCTV footage showed Waze leaving in Mercedes from police commissioner’s office.

    Hiran is seen walking towards the car when it is parked outside CSMT.

    Both sit inside and ten minutes later Hiran steps out and walks away while Waze drives back to the commissioner’s office.

    The ATS suspects that Hiran handed over the keys of Scorpio to Waze during this meeting, sources said.

    On February 25, the Scorpio was found parked near Ambani’s residence `Antilia’ with gelatin sticks and a threat letter.

    Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13 for his alleged role in parking the SUV near Ambani’s residence.

    The NIA had earlier this week seized a black Mercedes car from a parking lot near CSMT and seized Rs 5 lakh in cash, note-counting machine and some `incriminating’ documents.

    Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5.

    His family alleged that Waze had a role in his death.

  • Ambani security scare: Two cars allegedly used by Sachin Waze seized

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday seized two more luxury cars allegedly used by suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze, sources said.

    A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was found parked outside Waze’s residence in Saket area of adjoining Thane, an agency official said.

    A Mercedes car was also seized but it was not clear from where it was picked up.

    The total number of vehicles seized has gone up to five, including another Mercedes, a Scorpio and an Innova.

    The vehicles were brought to the NIA office at Cumballa Hill on Pedder Road here.

    The NIA on Thursday called two policemen, including an aide of Waze and a senior police inspector, for questioning, sources said.

    READ| Ab tak 63: The colourful life of Mumbai cop Sachin Waze now arrested over Ambani bomb scare

    The NIA arrested Waze on Saturday night in connection with the security scare outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

    Under fire over handling of the bomb scare outside Ambani’s house, Maharashtra Government on Wednesday shifted Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh to the Home Guard.

    Senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale has replaced Singh as Mumbai police commissioner.

    The NIA on Tuesday seized a black Mercedes from the Crawford market area in Mumbai and recovered from it the original number place of the explosive-laden SUV that was placed outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ on February 25.

    A 27-year-old travel operator said on Wednesday he sold the Mercedes-Benz car in February to a website that deals in used vehicles.

    He said he did not know Waze.

    Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday said Singh was transferred after some of his colleagues committed “serious and unforgivable mistakes”.

    In his first public comments after Singh’s transfer, Deshmukh said he was shifted to ensure that the probe into police officer Sachin Waze episode is conducted “properly and without hindrance”.

    Deshmukh said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the NIA are conducting the probe into the episode “professionally”.

    He said that action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the respective probes by the NIA and ATS.

    “This is not an administrative transfer (of Singh). Some things have come to light through the probes conducted by the NIA and the ATS,” Deshmukh said.

    “Some of the colleagues of the (former) Mumbai police chief (Singh) committed some serious mistakes. Those are unforgivable mistakes. Hence, he was transferred. Further action will be taken based on the probe report,” he added.

    Asked about the BJP and the MNS’s allegation that political bosses of the officials are not being acted against, Deshmukh said, “The NIA and ATS are conducting the probe professionally. They will definitely find out whoever is guilty.”

    Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13 in the probe into recovery of explosives from the SUV.

    He was later suspended.

    Waze, an “encounter specialist”, has also been facing heat in the murder case of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of that SUV.

    Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane district on March 5.

    The ATS is investigating the Hiran murder case.

    It had registered an FIR against unidentified persons days after Hiran’s body was found.

    Hiran’s wife accused Waze of involvement in her husband’s suspicious death.

  • Ab tak 63: The colourful life of Mumbai cop Sachin Waze now arrested over Ambani bomb scare

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Arrested by the NIA over his role in allegedly placing an explosive-laden vehicle outside the residence of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, 49-year-old encounter specialist Sachin Waze has always been in the thick of controversy.

    Waze who hails from Kolhapur has been involved in 63 encounters with criminals in his police career after starting as a sub-inspector in 1990 in the Naxalite area of Chandrapur in Vidarbha. Later, he moved to Thane and Mumbai and made a name for himself by cracking several complex cases. Another encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma was his mentor.

    In 2003-2004, Waze got suspended by the Bombay High Court at the peak of his career over the death of a prisoner Khwaja Yunus who was an accused in the Ghatkopar bomb blast of 2002. The BJP, which had backed Waze at the time, now wants strict action against him. Later, he officially joined the Shiv Sena in 2009. After 16 years, Waze was not only reinstated in 2020 but given important cases for probe by the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra.

    ALSO READ: Security threat to Ambanis: In a late night raid, NIA seizes Waze’s Mercedes, finds ‘incriminating’ documents

    According to senior journalist S Balakrishnan, Waze was virtually number two in the Mumbai police after the city’s police commissioner. “Waze wielded a lot of power in the police force because of the blessings of political leaders. He was good in cybercrime such as hacking emails, social media accounts, phone tapping. After his suspension, he ran his own cyber-security-detective firm as well,” said Balakrishnan.

    He said that in Mumbai, Waze was promoted and encouraged by the IPS lobby in a bid to end organised underworld crime in Mumbai. “Once organised crime was ended, encounter specialists turned into extortion specialists. The greed to earn more forced them to threaten and extort money from big businessmen, underworld dons, bookies etc. This was very easy money for them. With one phone call, they used to get Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore,” a senior journalist added.

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    A senior officer in the Mumbai police said Waze was so important that while you could easily meet the police commissioner, it was difficult to meet him.

    “Even deputy level police officers had to wait in front of his cabin. Waze was just an API but was still given charge of the important crime investigation unit. That is generally given to a Police Inspector or Senior Police Inspector, but Waze got it through his political connections. He was always on the hotline with Shiv Sena leaders. Even in the case involving Republic TV owner and editor Arnab Goswami, no one wanted to arrest him because of his connections with top BJP bosses in Delhi. But Waze orchestrated the plan and arrested Arnab early in the morning from his residence. That is really an appreciable quality in him. But he often misused his office for personal gains,” said the officer who requested anonymity.

    During their search, the NIA seized a Mercedes allegedly used by Waze with Rs 5 lakh in cash and a note counting machine. Waze also owns a BMW and is a director, owner and co-owner in multiple real estate and development projects. Before the arrest, Waze boasted to reporters at the Mumbai police headquarters that he did not own a Scorpio and never used a manual vehicle. “I like only automatic vehicles, that too imported ones, not local,” he said.

    “Mansukh Hiren whose Scorpio was found abandoned with gelatin sticks outside Ambani’s residence was a friend of Waze. He was involved in Waze’s operations on several occasions. However, their gameplan to issue a bomb scare to Ambani has been exposed and tarnished the image of the Mumbai police. The key witness Hiren lost his life and Waze is behind bars so this murky saga is unlikely to end soon even though the top cop of Mumbai has been shunted out,” said the police officer.