The ATS believes this man could have links to the murder of Mansukh Hiran, owner of the explosives-laden Scorpio
A screengrab of a CCTV camera footage shows a man in PPE suit walk past the explosives-laden Scorpio
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), after examining footage of multiple CCTV cameras on Altamount road, spotted a man in PPE suit walking past the explosives-laden Scorpio parked outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25. According to officers, the man came in the same car that had accompanied the Scorpio to Antilia around 2.18 am and left immediately with the latter’s driver.
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API Sachin Vaze will be questioned today in connection with Mansukh Hiren’s murder case
The Crime Branch, which was investigating the bomb scare case before the ATS took over, had found that the Innova crossed the Mulund toll plaza at 3.05 am on February 25, but couldn’t trace it any further.
Number plates changed
The ATS, however, found further leads and an officer said, “The same [Innova] car, after changing the number plate, was seen [on CCTV camera footage] entering the city from Mulund toll plaza at 4 am.”
ATS officers checked more footage of CCTV cameras and at Dadar they spotted the car heading towards Antilia. “Around 4.30 am, we spotted the same white Innova conducting recce near the Scorpio,” the officer said. A person in a PPE suit then stepped out of the Innova and walked towards Antilia. “He was seen near the Scorpio, and he walked on the road for a few seconds wearing the PPE kit so that nobody would suspect him. That car was last seen crossing the Mulund toll plaza at 5.20 am,” the officer added. The ATS believes that the man in PPE suit could have links to the murder of Mansukh Hiren, owner of the Scorpio.
Vaze to be quizzed today
Meanwhile, ATS, which is also probing Mansukh’s murder, has called Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze for questioning on Wednesday following a complaint from the deceased’s wife Vimal Hiren. Vimal said she suspects Vaze killed her husband. “His first questioning was in the capacity of the investigating officer in the Ambani threat case. Now, he will be questioned on allegations made by the deceased’s wife,” said an officer.
Vaze is heading the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Criminal Intelligence Unit which is currently investigating several high-profile matters like Kangana-Hrithik Roshan case, TRP, fake social media followers and Dillip Chhabaria Sports car scams.
Feb 25
Day the explosives-laden car was parked outside Antilia