SUV bomb scare case: Businessman who booked Sachin Waze’s five-star hotel room was under police probe

A CFSL team and NIA officers inspect the Scorpio car that was planted outside Antilia on Tuesday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

In its ongoing probe into the Ambani bomb scare case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found that suspended API Sachin Waze had booked a room at The Oberoi Trident Hotel at Nariman Point for 100 nights through a South Mumbai businessman. The businessman, who did the booking, has a fraud-related case against him registered at Mumbai police. According to sources, the businessman had paid over Rs 25 lakh for a luxury suite for 100 days in the same year.

An Aadhaar card with Sachin Waze photo but a different name

According to sources, the hotel was booked in the first week of February through a businessman who runs a jewellery showroom in Zaveri Bazaar, using a fake Aadhaar card in the name of one Sushant Shadashiv Khemkar. The card has a photograph of Waze.

The businessman had contacted a South Mumbai-based travel agency that provides holiday packages for the booking. "We have shared the details about the booking with the investigating agency. The Aadhar card has Waze's photograph," An staff from the travel agency told mid-day.

"The businessman is known to us. Often, we booked hotels for his clients so this was normal for us," the staffer added. "We are investigating Waze's links with the businessmen as to why he forged the documents. All necessary statements have been recorded," an NIA officer told mid-day.

While scrutinising the CCTV camera footage at the hotel, the agency found that Waze entered the hotel often with huge travel bags. The agency suspects that he was carrying cash in the bags. In one of the CCTV footages, the agency also found a woman standing next to Waze, with the currency counting machine in her hand. The woman is suspected to be from Gujarat and the agency has launched a manhunt to trace her.

Experts from CFSL Pune inspect the Scorpio that had the explosives at NIA's Peddar Road office on Monday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

So far, the NIA has seized CCTV footage of the lobby, entrance and the floor on which Waze was staying in The Oberoi Trident. "During the course of an investigation, attempts are made by affected parties by giving multiple offers in the form of foreign trip packages, vouchers, expensive gifts, etc. to influence the probe. But it is up to the officer to not fall prey for such offers and probe the case impartially," said former IPS officer PK Jain.

Major reshuffle
In a major reshuffle in the Mumbai police, 86 officers, including those of the level of senior PI, API, PSI, were transferred on Tuesday over the Waze fiasco. The transfer order was signed by the joint commissioner of police (administration) of the Mumbai police.

Of the 86 cops transferred, 65 were working in the Crime Branch. A source in the Mumbai police said, "These officers were suspected of being close confidants of Waze and had been bypassing senior officers to remain in touch with him."

Waze's right-hand man, API Riyazuddin Kazi, who is under the NIA's scanner has been shunted to the Local Arms (LA). The major reshuffle is part of a makeover of the force.

- Diwakar Sharma