24 March,2021 05:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Anurag Kamble
Mansukh Hiran
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Tuesday said the SIM cards used in the murder of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran was procured by a Gujarat-based company. One of the cards was allegedly used to contact Hiran before his body was found in Thane creek. The agency also seized a car from Daman, which it suspects was used in the alleged murder.
Suspended cop Sachin Waze
Maharashtra ATS chief Jai Jeet Singh, while speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, also said that suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Waze is the key conspirator in the case.
Singh said they have all the evidence against Waze and that the agency is set to seek his custody. During interrogation following Hiran's death, "Waze had claimed that he didn't know Hiran personally. He had also said the Scorpio car [vehicle laden with explosives found outside Antilia] was never in his possession," he said. However, the investigation and the evidence collected so far show that Waze was lying, Singh added.
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Singh said the ATS has got the transfer warrant and has filed an application to seek Waze's custody from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The application will be heard on March 25.
SIM cards
Speaking about the SIM cards that were procured by a Gujarat-based company, Singh said "Naresh Gaur [cricket bookie] procured 14 SIM cards and gave them to Vinayak Shinde[suspended policeman]. Shinde had called Hiran posing as Crime Branch officer Tawde from Kandivli unit, using one of the SIM cards," Singh added. Both Gaur and Shinde are accused in the Hiran death case. "All the accused were taken to the crime spot and the crime was recreated," Singh said.
Suspect held from Daman
The ATS officers found a bag containing clothes, shoes and a chemical bottle in the Volvo car they seized from Daman. The car and a suspect were brought to Thane on Tuesday and the forensic teams are examining the vehicle, said officers. Police suspect the accused used this car in the alleged crime.
