Ambani bomb scare: Owner of explosive-laden Scorpio car found dead

The abandoned SUV that had 21 gelatin sticks in it. Pic/Ashish Raje

The owner of explosive-laden Scorpio car, which was found near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani has allegedly died by suicide, said sources.

Police officials said that the owner identified as Mansukh Hiren was found dead at Kalwa creek on Friday. According to sources, Hiren was allegedly taken for interrogation by some people on Thursday evening.

Last week, a scorpio with 2.5 kg of gelatin sticks, an explosive material, was found near 'Antilia', the multi-storey house of the Ambani's. The police also found a letter inside the SUV that allegedly threatened Mukesh Ambani and his family. According to police, the Scorpio had been stolen from Mulund area a week ago.

The chief of security staff of Antilia informed senior officers of Mumbai police about the vehicle after he noticed the abandoned car outside Shikhar Kunj building, a few hundred metres away from Antilia. Interestingly, the vehicle bore the same number plate as that of a Range Rover used in the Ambani family's security convoy.

"The vehicle had the number of a Range Rover used in the Ambani family's security. Six other number plates were also found in the vehicle," a police officer told mid-day.

During investigation, the owner of the SUV car was brought to the police station and his statement was recorded. In his statement to the police, Hiren claimed that on February 18, he had left his vehicle at Vikhroli highway due to some technical reasons, and later it got stolen. He had filed an FIR with the Vikhroli police the same day.