SUV bomb scare case: NIA grills Sachin Vaze for over ten hours

NIA officers outside the Pedder Road office on Saturday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

The NIA, which is investigating the case of explosives found in the SUV parked near Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, questioned Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze on Saturday for more than ten hours. Vaze visited the NIA office at Pedder Road at around 12 noon. ACP Nitin Alaknure and ATS ACP Shripad Kale were also seen at the NIA office later in the day. At the time of going to press, Vaze was still being questioned.

Sachin Vaze

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra ATS, which is investigating the death of Mansukh Hiran, the owner of the SUV, recorded the statement of advocate HK Giri, who had written a complaint letter for Hiran. The questioning comes days after Hiran's wife Vimla, in her statement to the ATS, said that it was on Vaze's instructions that a complaint against the police and media was made to CM Uddhav Thackeray, CP Param Bir Singh and to the Thane police commissioner.

Speaking to mid-day, Giri said, "Mansukh said that he wanted to write a complaint letter as he was upset about the calls he was receiving. Mansukh was sent to me by Sachin Vaze" Vaze's name emerged after Hiran's body was fished out from a creek on March 5. Hiran had allegedly been in touch with Vaze, who was investigating the case of the vehicle that had been found near Antilia. Later, ACP Alaknure took over. On Friday, the Thane court had refused to give interim protection to Vaze. The court said that his custodial interrogation was necessary.