CCTV footage, fingerprints — NIA’s ‘technical evidence’ against Waze in Ambani threat case

NIA claims Waze's teammate arranged for fake number plate for the explosive-laden SUV to mislead investigators, says more names from Mumbai Police will emerge.

Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze | PTI

Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency claims to have recovered “crucial” CCTV footage from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station that shows Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze with businessman Mansukh Hiren on 25 February, the day an explosive-laden Mahindra Scorpio car owned by the latter was found abandoned outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s south Mumbai residence, ThePrint has learnt.

According to a source, NIA has call detail records, CCTV footage, results of mobile forensics, fingerprints and locations of Waze — from 25 February, when the Scorpio was planted, as well as from 5 March, the day Hiren was found dead inside Mumbra creek — to establish his involvement in the case.

Waze was arrested late Saturday night after 11 hours of questioning, in which the NIA confronted him with “technical evidence” it had gathered, sources said.

Waze is being probed by the NIA in connection with the explosive-laden car found outside Ambani’s home and by the Mumbai ATS in connection with Hiren’s death. On Sunday, Waze was remanded to NIA custody until 25 March for further questioning.

Waze has been booked under sections 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy, 286 for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance, 465 for forgery, 473 for making or possessing counterfeit seal, 506(2) for criminal intimidation and Section 4(a)(b)(I) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

“He (Waze) was initially very reluctant to speak up and denied all allegations. But when he was confronted with technical evidence, that includes his location at several places that he could not explain and footage from CCTV cameras along with results of forensics, he broke down and confessed that he was part of the conspiracy,” the source said.

“He had constantly denied having met Hiren on either 25 February or 5 March, but after he was confronted with the crucial footage from VT station (as CSTM station was formerly called), he did not have any explanation,” the source said. “Moreover, Waze’s fingerprints too have been found at crucial places including the Scorpio car that he claims he never drove,” the source added.

The source said “bigger names” from the Mumbai Police are likely to emerge in the coming days. The involvement of an inspector-rank policeman from Waze’s team is said to have come to the fore, and he is likely to be arrested.

“This is a larger conspiracy which involves more people than Waze. More names from the police force are likely to emerge in the coming days. We are working on some leads,” the source said.

An inspector and a white Innova

According to a second source, it was the inspector from Waze’s team who arranged the fake number plate that was put on the Scorpio to mislead investigators.

“He was part of the entire plan and arranged the fake number plate that was put on the Scorpio so the police are not able to trace it back to the right owner. The chassis number in the engine bay was also found to be scribbled,” the source added.

The NIA Sunday also seized the white Toyota Innova car that was spotted in the CCTV footage from near Ambani’s residence on the day the Scorpio was abandoned. The agency said it was a police vehicle allotted to Waze’s team.

The footage showed at 2:18 am, the Scorpio drove down Carmichael Road, followed by the white Innova. The driver of the Scorpio then alighted and got into the Innova, which drove off leaving the Scorpio behind. The police found footage of the Innova leaving the Mulund toll naka at 3:05 am.

“It is a police vehicle, which was allotted to the crime unit headed by Waze. Although Waze mostly drove his own vehicle, this car was being used for official purposes,” the source said.