Mansukh Hiran case: Sachin Waze rotated phones to stave off doubts, suspects ATS

ATS says Waze raided a bar in Dongri on the night of March 4 to show that he was busy with his work in south Mumbai

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad investigating the death of Mansukh Hiran suspects API Sachin Waze was present at the spot where the Thane businessman was allegedly killed and his body dumped into a creek. One of the findings that has raised the agency's suspicion on the involvement of Waze, a former Crime Intelligence Unit officer, is that despite handling several high-profile cases, the cop's mobile phone doesn't have a single incoming or outgoing call.

Inspector General of NIA Anil Shukla at the probe agency's Pedder Road office on Wednesday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Waze used different SIM cards and handsets for the alleged crime, suspects the agency. The ATS is not denying the fact that after the alleged crime was committed, Waze came to Mumbai and went to carry out a raid at Tipsy bar and restaurant in Dongri. The anti-terror agency, which will now hand over the Hiran case to the National Investigation Agency following a Thane court's order, had opposed on March 19 Waze's anticipatory bail application.

"Possibilities cannot be ruled out that after the crime [murder of Hiran], accused Sachin Waze came to Tipsy bar at 23.48 to save himself and to create supportive evidence. Also, the person who is on such an important post and heading the most important department of Mumbai CIU is not having a single incoming and outgoing call on his phone. Therefore it appears that he was involved in that," ATS told the court.

At bar on March 4

The ATS said Waze can be seen getting out of his car outside Tipsy bar at 11.38 pm on March 4. On the same night, Hiran left his home at 8.32 pm and can be seen going towards Khopat area in Thane from Vikas Palms, Ambedkar road.

"Despite having his own four-wheeler and three bikes, he went by an auto rickshaw as he was being instructed on a WhatsApp call," ATS said in its reply. That night, ATS explained, Hiran's wife tried to call him at 11 pm but his number was switched off. As per the call detail records of both his numbers, the last call which he received from his wife was at 8.32 pm after which there was no call on his phone. At 10.10 pm, there were four incoming messages on one of his SIMs. ATS traced the location to Maljipada, Vasai.

"It appears that, at around 9 pm he was kidnapped, they took his mobile and turned off. After that they killed him and took all his belongings which can easily identify him and then they stuffed his mouth with handkerchiefs and covered his entire face with a scarf. Later his body was dumped in the creek," said ATS opposing Waze's bail plea. According to ATS, after committing the crime in Thane or Mumbra, the killers started Hiran's phone for a few seconds near Vasai to misguide the police investigation. "This is what prima facie appears going by the evidence," added the ATS.

Based on the circumstantial evidence gathered so far, the ATS believes that Waze might have been present at the crime spot and after Hiran's murder he easily reached Mumbai to carry out raids to create an alibi. According to the ATS, Waze also lied in his statement that on March 4 he was in his office the entire day. The agency found that he was in MMRDA colony in Chembur at around 12:48 pm. Sources in ATS had earlier told mid-day that they suspected the presence of at least three people when Hiran was killed and his body thrown into the creek. They seem to have also found evidence of Waze's close associate and former constable Vinayak Shinde's presence at the spot. The agency has found that Waze communicated with Shinde through bogus SIM cards procured from Gaujrat with the help of bookie Naresh Gor, arrested in the case.

Waze called Hiran

Another theory which ATS believes is that it was Waze who called Hiran near Ghodbunder on March 4 and told him to tell his wife that one inspector Tawde from Kandivli Crime Branch called him, as his wife was upset with Waze after he asked Hiran to get arrested in Ambani bomb scare case with the promise of ensuring bail.

"We believe that Mansukh would not go out so easily after receiving a call from a person who is not known to him. So Waze might have called him using the other SIM number procured from Gujarat," said an ATS officer. "We worked on this theory based on some circumstantial evidence but now the case has been transferred to NIA and we have briefed them about it. They have to work on it to get further leads," added the officer. ATS also believes that Waze kept his phone in his CIU office to show that he was very much in that area on March 4.