SUV bomb scare case: Map in Sunil Mane's phone proves key for NIA

Sunil Mane

A screen grab of a map found in suspended PI Sunil Mane's phone is proving to be a crucial piece of evidence for the National Investigating Agency (NIA). The map shows the route to Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilia from Priyadarshini Park in Chembur. Mane was arrested by NIA last week and on Wednesday, the court extended his NIA custody till May 1. The NIA told the court that he played an important role in the murder of Mansukh Hiran and the map was one of the reasons he was arrested last week.

Mane's role in the murder

According to the NIA, Mane was part of the conspiracy and aided the other accused in eliminating Hiran after he refused to be arrested in the Antilia bomb threat case. The NIA told the court that Mane was not in his office on March 4, the day Hiran was killed as he was in Thane.

During the course of the investigation, the agency checked the screen grab of the map showing the route from Chembur to Antilia where the Scorpio car laden with explosives was found on February 25. The Maharashtra ATS that was earlier probing the case, had found the screen grab of the map. However, before it could act, the case was transferred to the NIA, and the ATS handed over the evidence to the agency.

According to NIA sources, the map clearly shows that Mane was aware of the Antilia episode. Chembur's Priyadarshini Park was the same spot where the Scorpio car was waiting for the Innova car on February 24. Both vehicles had come from Thane and the Scorpio first reached Priyadarshini Park and waited for the Innova. According to NIA, Waze was driving the Scorpio on February 24.

The agency on Wednesday also told the court that on March 4, Mane switched off his mobile phone and kept it inside his bag and left the bag at the Kandivli crime branch office. Later, he told one of his colleagues to drop the bag off at his residence. The agency found that later, Mane left for Kalwa and picked up now suspended API Sachin Waze. Mane was the one who is suspected of calling Hiran and telling him to tell his (Hiran's) wife that one officer ‘Tawade' was coming to meet him at Ghodbunder Road from Kandivli crime branch.

Hiran's phone still missing

Both Waze and Mane then picked up Hiran from near Mumbra and handed him over to some people near Hotel Hill View at Ghodbunder Road. NIA says as soon as Hiran came, Mane or Waze took his phone and switched it off. After handing Hiran over to the others, Mane left for Vasai and switched on Hiran's dual SIM phone near Mandavi, Vasai, and then switched it off. He again switched on his phone with Hiran's other SIM card, which showed a Tungareshwar location. The ATS and NIA have found that this was done to misguide the police. Waze came to Mumbai via a local train.

Handed over dead or alive?

The NIA has not yet clarified whether Hiran was dead or alive when he was handed over to the other accused. Whether the others involved in the conspiracy were just told to dump his body or whether they killed him and then dumped his body in the creek.

Citing back pain, Waze wants chair, mattress

Sachin Waze's lawyer has told the court that he was having severe back pain issues and could not sit on the floor. He has demanded a chair and mattress for Waze, which the court has refused citing a JJ hospital report which suggested that he was in good health. He also complained about dental issues, for which the court said that treatment was available inside the prison.