Mumbai: After Maharashtra police officer Sachin Waze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection Antilia bomb scare case, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said no Central team was needed to investigate the case.
Speaking to reporters here, the Rajya Sabha MP said the Central agencies repeatedly enter Mumbai and demoralise Mumbai Police. “We respect the NIA but our Mumbai police could have done it too. Mumbai Police and anti-terrorism squad (ATS) are well respected but central agencies repeatedly enter Mumbai and try to demoralise Mumbai Police. Thus, it creates instability in the state and creates pressure on Mumbai Police and the administration,” Raut said.
“I believe Sachin Waze is a very honest and capable officer. He has been arrested in connection with gelatin sticks that were found. One suspicious death also occurred. It’s Mumbai Police’s responsibility to investigate the matter. No central team was needed,” Raut said.
The NIA will present Sachin Waze, an assistant police inspector with the Mumbai Police who was arrested in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai, before a special court today to demand his custody.
This came days after Waze, was who was leading the investigating of Mansukh Hiren’s death in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), was transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at the Mumbai Police Headquarters.
“Sachin Waze API Mumbai Police Crime Branch has been arrested for his role and involvement in Placing an explosives-laden vehicle near Carmichael Road (near Mukesh Ambani’s house) on 25th February 2021,” said an official statement of NIA.
Waze was summoned to the NIA office on Saturday to record his statement, in connection with the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai. Later, he was arrested under section 286, 465, 473, 506(2), 120 B of the Indian Penal Code, and 4(a)(b)(I) of the Explosive Substances Act 1908.
A car carrying unassembled explosive materials was found abandoned at Carmichael Road in South Mumbai on February 25, near the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
The owner of the vehicle, Mansukh Hiren, was found dead in a creek in the Thane district on Friday. Now, ATS Maharashtra is investigating the case.
Maharashta govt was protecting Sachin Waze, alleges Fadnavis
A short while after Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze was sent to NIA custody till March 25, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra of protecting Waze, stating that this raises questions about the state government.
Speaking to reporters here today, Fadnavis said, “Sachin Waze’s arrest raises questions on the government. Maharashtra chief minister and home minister were protecting him as if they were his lawyers. I think only one angle has come out but Mansukh Hiren death case isn’t solved yet. Probe will reveal who was involved and what was the intention.” “API (Assistant Police Inspector) Sachin Waze was suspended by High Court for 16 years. When I was the chief minister, Shiv Sena leaders demanded to revoke his suspension. The new government took him back giving an excuse of COVID. He was made Crime Intelligence Unit’s chief and was given major cases,” said Fadnavis.
“The person who is facing arrest was the investigating officer in the Mansukh Hiren death case. If someone behaves so terribly, then one must think what would happen to the image of the Mumbai Police,” said the BJP leader.
Waze first came under the scanner when he was suspended in March 2004 after allegations of custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus. He was suspended along with 14 other cops at that time.
Later, when his application for being reinstated was rejected, he resigned from the police force in November 2007 and joined Shiv Sena in 2008.
As years passed by, in June 2020, he was reinstated in the Mumbai police’s CIU.
Waze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on March 13 for his alleged role and involvement in the Antilla bomb scare case.
Waze, was who was leading the investigation of Mansukh Hiren’s death in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), was arrested days after being transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at the Mumbai Police Headquarters.
Waze was summoned to the NIA office on Saturday to record his statement, in connection with the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai.
Later, he was arrested under section 286, 465, 473, 506(2), 120 B of the Indian Penal Code, and 4(a)(b)(I) of the Explosive Substances Act 1908.
A car carrying unassembled explosive materials was found abandoned at Carmichael Road in South Mumbai on February 25, near the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
Also read: The mystery of Ambani bomb threat — gelatin in SUV, murky death of its owner & a Mumbai cop
Sure, We believe you Mr. Raut. Mumbai police were doing a fine job under your guidance. ..
Fantastic comments sir if this was the case most of them would have been behind bars for lifetime
We all know the competence of indian police force, irrespective of state and region. The Mumbai police force and its competence was visible during the attack on Mumbai by Pakistan based terrorist.
India police is used as a political tool and to control street protests by opposition parties. It needs reforms but political parties will never allow that, who wants to lose a government funded mob?