Tag: Sachin Waze

  • Uddhav had asked me to reinstate Waze when I was CM, says BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday claimed that when he was Maharashtra chief minister, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had called him in 2018 to seek reinstatement of the then suspended police officer Sachin Waze into the state police force.

    He also accused the Shiv Sena of pressuring him over this demand at that time.

    Mumbai police officer Waze is at the focus of a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the case related to the recovery of an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in south Mumbai on February 25.

    Waze, arrested in the case on March 13 for his alleged role in the crime, was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of city police’s crime branch till recently.

    ALSO READ | Ambani bomb scare row: Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh shifted to Home Guard

    Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Fadnavis said, “I was Maharashtra chief minister in 2018 and also helmed the home department. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had called me to reinstate the then suspended police officer Sachin Waze back into the police force. Some Shiv Sena ministers later met me with the same request.”

    “When I received the proposal to reinstate Waze back into police force, I verbally sought advocate general’s opinion about it. I was told that Waze was suspended after the Bombay High Court’s order. Therefore, I decided not to reinstate him,” Fadnavis said.

    The Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly also alleged that the Shiv Sena even tried to pressurise him over it.

    The BJP and the Shiv Sena shared power between 2014 and 2019.

    However, after the 2019 Assembly polls, the Sena parted ways with the BJP over sharing the chief minister’s post and joined hands with the NCP and the Congress.

    Uddhav Thackeray heads the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Credited with eliminating 63 alleged criminals in ‘encounters’, Waze, a 1990-batch officer of the state cadre, was suspended in 2004 over his role in the custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus and was reinstated last year.

  • More Sena defends Sachin Vaze, more suspicion there will be: BJP

    Waze is also facing allegations with regard to the mysterious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, who had claimed that the vehicle found outside Ambani #39;s house had been stolen from his possession.

  • Security threat to Ambanis: Sachin Waze suspended, more heads may roll in SUV case

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Monday suspended Sachin Waze, the ‘encounter specialist’ police officer allegedly linked to the seizure of an explosives-laden SUV found near Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25. 

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested the assistant police inspector on Saturday.

    The officer is in NIA custody till March 25. On Monday he was admitted to JJ Hospital for a check-up.

    The officer’s suspension came after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and CM Uddhav Thackeray met at the latter’s residence on Monday. Sources said Pawar was concerned about the handling of the sensitive case. The state capital was abuzz with speculation that more heads could roll in the episode. 

    Sources said “big names” in Mumbai Police and other departments are likely to be suspended for their “mysterious role” in the entire episode. The ruling alliance is reported to be unhappy with Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh. 

    Pawar also met his party’s ministers and told them not to hesitate in taking actions against senior officers.

    “He is not happy with Home Minister Anil Deshmukh for his causal approach in handling the Waze case,” said a source. 

    “Pawar saheb told us to act against those officers who are not following government orders and misusing their powers. He directed us to enforce discipline in various departments. Otherwise, it would be difficult for ministers to remain in their position,” said a minister who was part of the meeting.

    ALSO READ | Ambani bomb scare case: NIA investigating if person in CCTV grab is Sachin Waze

    NCP leaders on Monday reportedly also discussed the party’s likely candidate to replace Deshmukh post. “NCP state unit chief Jayant Patil, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Health Minister Rajesh Tope are the frontrunners. Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule has put her weight behind Tope who has a clean image,” said a source.

    Officially, though, the party denied replacement talks with Patil saying “there is no question of home minister Anil Deshmukh being replaced”.

    In another development, Waze’s brother filed a ‘habeas corpus’ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging his arrest and claimed that he was being made a “scapegoat” by “certain political powers”.

    The plea, moved by his lawyer Sunny Punamiya, sought a direction to the NIA to produce Waze before the HC and to prove that due procedure was followed during the arrest.

    The police officer was not provided a copy of the FIR and he was also not explained the reasons for arrest, nor was his family informed, the petition said.

    The haste with which he was arrested showed that the central agency acted with malafide intentions, it alleged.

    The NIA is probing the recovery of an explosives-laden Scorpio near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s multi-storey house `Antilia’ here last month.

    The case was taken over by the NIA after the mysterious death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiren who had claimed the vehicle had been stolen from his possession.

    The petition said the allegations made by Hiren’s wife, blaming Waze for her husband’s death, were false.

    After the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad registered an FIR against him, the “entire media fraternity and society started targeting” him as they wanted a “scapegoat to pin this entire conspiracy on”, Waze claimed.

    The petition is yet to be listed for hearing.

    Meanwhile, arguing before a special court here, the NIA denied that Waze had been detained illegally before the arrest.

    ALSO READ | Family came to know about Sachin Waze’s arrest through media: Cop’s brother

    The special court had remanded Waze in the custody of the central agency till March 25 on Sunday.

    Waze’s lawyers had alleged during the remand hearing that he was illegally detained by the NIA officials from 11 am on Saturday and shown as arrested only late at night.

    During the hearing on Monday, the NIA told the court that Waze was summoned by NIA officials on Saturday as he was the previous investigating officer of the SUV recovery case.

    There were several discrepancies in case documents such as memos, seizure documents and station diary but Waze gave evasive answers when questioned, said special prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves.

    He had come to the NIA office even without his mobile phones, the prosecutor said.

    Since Waze did not provide satisfactory explanations about his probe, he was placed under arrest around 11.50 pm on Saturday, the agency claimed.

    On Waze’s allegation that his family was not informed, the agency said he refused to give their contact details, so his police station was informed about his arrest.

    On defence’s demand for CCTV cameras in the interrogation room, the NIA claimed that there are CCTV cameras in all the rooms at their office.

    The defence lawyers asked the agency to submit the same in writing before the court.

    The hearing will continue on Tuesday.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Family came to know about Sachin Waze’s arrest through media: Cop’s brother

    Sudharma Waze also alleged that his brother Sachin is being implicated in the case.

  • NIA taking over Ambani bomb scare case amounts to demoralising Mumbai Police: Sanjay Raut

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that the NIA taking over the probe into the recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence here amounted to demoralising the Mumbai Police and creating instability in Maharashtra.

    Talking to reporters here, Raut also said Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze, arrested late Saturday night by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is an “honest, successful officer and a good investigator”.

    “The state government’s prestige is at stake in this case,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

    Meanwhile, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters in Nagpur that the ATS and NIA were probing the recovery of the explosives-laden vehicle and the case of Hiran’s death.

    “The truth will come out and action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

    When asked if Waze would be suspended, Deshmukh did not comment.

    A Scorpio found parked near Ambani’s house on Carmichael Road in south Mumbai on February 25 contained some gelatin sticks and a threat letter.

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

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

    The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating the Hiran murder case.

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

    Raut said the Mumbai Police were capable of investigating both the cases and involvement of central agencies “wasn’t required”.

    “They (Mumbai Police) are capable and professional. They can’t be pressurised. The NIA taking over the probe amounts to creating pressure and terror of the central government by lowering the morale of the police and destabilising the state,” he alleged.

    The Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson further charged that Waze’s arrest by the NIA amounted to encroaching upon the rights of the police and an attack on their capabilities.

    Raut said state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had handed over the probe to the ATS, but the NIA entered the scene to probe the recovery of 20 gelatin sticks in the Scorpio.

    To a question on sections under which Waze has been charged, Raut said, “There is a difference between charges being levelled and the charges being proved.”

    “The state government’s prestige is at stake in this case,” he further said.

    Raut also said the government should take “very seriously” the issue of sensitive information reaching the opposition leaders first.

    The opposition should explain what the CBI’s probe found into the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death which the Mumbai Police had not investigated.

    In his weekly column ‘Rokhtok’ in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Raut said it was not a good sign for the state government that Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis had “access first” to all confidential documents in case of the explosives-laden SUV and Hiran’s mysterious death.

    He said the present controversy has enabled the opposition to “regain its lost confidence”.

    “What was happening in the state currently was not good for its prestige,” he said.

    Raut said Sanjay Rathod had to resign as state minister over the Puja Chavan suicide case, while the opposition targeted Sachin Waze in the case Manuskh Hiran’s death.

    “But, the opposition is not ready to speak on the cases of suicide of (interior designer) Anvay Naik and (Dadra and Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha member) Mohan Delkar,” he said.

    Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and two others were arrested on November 4 last year by Raigad police in connection with the suicide of Anvay Naik and his mother in 2018. They were granted bail by the Supreme Court a few days later. Delkar (58) was found dead in a hotel in south Mumbai last month.

    Dubbing the recovery of gelatin sticks from the vehicle found near Ambani’s residence and Hiran’s death as a “mystery”, Raut said, “But, there is a difference between mystery and truth.”

    He said Hiran left his house for the last time saying a police official called “Tawde” had called him to Kandivali police station.

    “But, there is no official by that name in Kandivali. All this is very complicated. An external force is controlling some groups in the Mumbai and Thane police forces,” Raut claimed, adding that it is not good if factionalism in the police force shows up again.

  • Antilia bomb scare case: Sachin Waze sent to NIA custody till March 25

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Sachin 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 death case, has been sent to NIA custody till March 25, in connection with his role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai on February 25.

    Waze had on Saturday moved an anticipatory bail application at Thane District and Sessions Court.

    The matter briefly came up for hearing on March 12 but the court refused to give Waze any interim relief and issued notice to the state government and posted the matter for hearing on March 19.

    Hiren, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives outside the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, was found dead in a creek on March 5 in Thane.

    After allegations were levelled against him in connection with the case, Vaze, who was leading the investigating of Hiren’s death in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), was transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at the Mumbai Police Headquarters.

    Earlier on February 25, a car carrying unassembled explosive materials was found abandoned at Carmichael Road in South Mumbai on February 25, near the house of Mukesh Ambani.

    The owner of the vehicle, Mansukh Hiren, was found dead in a creek in the Thane last week. Now, ATS Maharashtra is investigating the case.

    Earlier in the day, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had alleged that Waze has more than six businesses and Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Mashelkar and Vijay Gawai were his business partners.

    “Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze has more than 6 businesses — Multibuild Infraprojects Limited, Techlegal Solutions Pvt Ltd, DGNext Multimedia Limited and others. Who were the business partners? Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Mashelkar and Vijay Gawai,” Somaiya had said. 

  • Ambani bomb scare: NIA produces Sachin Waze before Mumbai court 

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday presented police officer Sachin Waze before a court here in connection with a probe into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis house in Mumbai.

    Waze was brought to the court in south Mumbai after being taken to a local hospital for his medical examination, an official said.

    The NIA arrested Waze on Saturday night for his alleged involvement in placing the explosives-laden vehicle on Carmichael Road near billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia on February 25, an agency spokesperson said.

    Waze was summoned at the agency’s Mumbai office at Cumballa Hill in south Mumbai around 11.30 am on Saturday to record his statement.

    The spokesperson said Waze was arrested under Sections of IPC and Explosive Substances Act after being questioned by NIA officials for around 12 hours.

  • Mansukh Hiran death case: Sachin Waze denied interim bail, court says prima facie evidence against him

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A sessions court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has refused to grant interim bail to police officer Sachin Waze, who has been facing heat in the death case of Mansukh Hiran, noting that there was prima facie evidence and material against him.

    Additional sessions Judge Shailendra Tambe, in the order that was made available on Saturday, refused to grant interim bail to Waze and said his custodial interrogation was required.

    “This court is not agreed to grant interim bail to the applicant (Waze) because there is prima facie evidence and material against the applicant. The custodial interrogation of the applicant is necessary,” the order said.

    Waze had on Friday filed an application seeking pre-arrest bail.

    His lawyer A M Kalekar had sought the court to grant Waze interim protection from arrest on the ground that he was cooperating with the investigation.

    Additional public prosecutor Vivek Kadu, however, opposed and argued that the probe in the case was at a crucial stage.

    The court, while refusing interim bail, noted that the charges in the case include section 302 (murder), section 201 (destruction of evidence) and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, which are serious offences.

    “This court has found that on February 27 and 28, 2021 the deceased Mansukh Hiran was along with the applicant in Mumbai,” the court said.

    It added that Hiran’s wife in her complaint has specifically taken Waze’s name.

    “The informant (Hiran’s wife) has made direct allegations against the applicant in the FIR. Hence, this court has come to the conclusion that the investigation is at initial stage,” the court said.

    It directed the investigating officer of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which is probing the case, to file an affidavit in reply to the plea, and posted it for hearing on March 19.

    In his plea, Waze said the FIR, registered by the ATS in connection with Hiran’s death, has not named any person.

    He termed the FIR as “baseless and without any motive”, and said it was a result of a “witch-hunt”.

    He further claimed that at the time when Hiran went missing and was allegedly killed, he was at Dongri in south Mumbai.

    Waze filed the plea under section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the Thane district sessions court.

    Under this section, a person can seek bail if he or she is apprehending arrest in a case.

    In his plea, Waze said the complaint lodged by Hiran’s wife is based on “bald suspicion and is without any basis or motive”.

    “It is trite law that a bald suspicion of the first informant regarding the commission of a crime cannot justify arrest of a citizen,” the plea said.

    Waze, accused by Hiran’s wife of involvement in her husband’s suspicious death, was shunted out of the Mumbai crime branch on Wednesday.

    Waze’s application further said that there is no incriminating material against him and that he has not even been named as accused in the case.

    “Applicant (Waze) is a resident of Thane since long time. Even if he was a customer and acquaintance of the deceased, no motive can be attributed to the applicant from the bare reading of the FIR,” it said.

    The ATS, which is probing the case, has recorded Waze’s statement earlier this week.

    Waze, in the plea, said he was questioned extensively by senior officers of the ATS on March 8, during which he said that he was in south Mumbai at the relevant time (when Hiran was allegedly killed).

    “On March 4 (entire day) the applicant was in South Mumbai. Thereafter during the intervening night between March 4 and 5, the applicant had been in Dongri area. The said fact is duly corroborated from the contemporaneous records such as Station Diary Entries of Dongri Police Station,” the plea said.

    “There is a virtual witch-hunt in news and social media casting speculative aspersion regarding the applicants involvement on the basis of half-baked information without proper research, and pre-judging his guilt or innocence,” it added.

    Waze said he was cooperating with the investigation and hence should be protected from arrest.

    Waze, who was crime branch’s Assistant Police Inspector, has been transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) unit of Mumbai police.

    Meanwhile, in his new WhatsaApp status message put on Saturday morning, Waze said “the time to say goodbye to the world is coming closer”.

    “3rd March 2004. Fellow officers from the CID arrested me in a false case. That arrest inconclusive till date. Sensing the history is going to repeat. My fellow officers are on to falsely trap me. There’s a slight difference in the scenario.

    Then probably I had 17 years of hope, patience, life and service too.

    Now I will have neither 17 years of further life nor service nor patience to live.

    I think the time to say goodbye to the world is coming closer,” the status read.

    On February 25, a Scorpio was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in south Mumbai with explosives and a threat letter inside.

    Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV, had claimed that it had been stolen a week earlier, but the case got murky when he was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5.

    Hiran’s wife had claimed that her husband had given the SUV to Waze in November, which the officer returned in the first week of February.

    During his questioning by the ATS, Waze has denied using the SUV that was in possession of Hiran.