Sachin Vaze: Difference between revisions

== 2021 Mukesh Ambani/Antilia bomb scare case ==

On February 25, 2021, a [[Mahindra Scorpio]] SUV with fake license plates and around 20 explosive gelatin sticks was parked outside Mumbai businessman [[Mukesh Ambani|Mukesh Ambani's]] residence [[Antilia (building)|Antilia]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 9, 2021|first=Divyesh|last=Singh|title=Mukesh Ambani bomb threat: CCTV captures suspect parking explosive-laden SUV, man wore PPE kit|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/suspect-caught-on-cctv-explosives-laden-suv-mukesh-ambani-antilia-1777188-2021-03-09|access-date=2021-03-09|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> The explosives were not connected and no detonator was found. Instead, a warning note was found inside stating that this was just a trailer (introduction to an upcoming movie).<ref>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/just-a-trailer-says-letter-found-in-car-near-mukesh-ambani-s-residence-101614373353697.html Just a trailer, says letter found in car near Mukesh Ambani's residence, Vijay Kumar Yadav, Hindustan Times, FEB 27, 2021]</ref> Vaze was the first investigating officer in the bomb-scare case. <ref name="reconstruction" /> The presumed  car owner, [[Mansukh Hiren]], who had filed a police complaint about the SUV being stolen, was later found dead in a creek near [[Thane]] on March 5, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2021|title=Ambani bomb scare: ATS registers murder case into SUV owner's death|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mumbai-suv-owner-death-ats-registers-murder-case/articleshow/81377960.cms|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Three days before his death, Hiren had written a letter accusing the police of harassment. The leader of opposition of Maharashtra, [[Devendra Fadnavis]] demanded the arrest of Vaze for Hiren's alleged murder.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mumbai bomb scare: Devendra Fadnavis demands arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze in Mansukh Hiren death case|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/maharashtra-news/article/mumbai-bomb-scare-devendra-fadnavis-demands-arrest-of-police-officer-sachin-vaze-in-mansukh-hiren-death-case/730101|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref> Fadnavis claimed that Hiren's wife suspected that Vaze killed her husband.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Mumbai bomb scare: Devendra Fadnavis demands arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze in Mansukh Hiren death case|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/maharashtra-news/article/mumbai-bomb-scare-devendra-fadnavis-demands-arrest-of-police-officer-sachin-vaze-in-mansukh-hiren-death-case/730101|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 9, 2021|first1=Kamlesh Damodar|last1=Sutar|first2=Mustafa|last2=Shaikh|title=Mukesh Ambani bomb scare: Fadnavis demands arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukesh-ambani-bomb-scare-fadnavis-demands-arrest-of-police-officer-sachin-vaze-1777228-2021-03-09|access-date=2021-03-09|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

In a March 21 statement, the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad named Vaze as the prime suspect in Mansukh Hiran’s murder case. ATS has arrested cricket bookie Naresh Ramniklal Ghor and police officer Vinayak Balasaheb Shinde, who worked with Vaze, for their involvement.<ref>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/mansukh-hiran-murder-mystery-solved-sachin-vaze-the-prime-accused-says-maharashtra-ats-101616356727335.html Mansukh Hiran murder mystery solved, Sachin Vaze the prime accused, says Maharashtra ATS, Vijay Kumar Yadav and Anamika Gharat, Hindustan Times, MAR 22, 2021]</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|date=April 2, 2021|title=CCTV footage shows Sachin Vaze driving with accused Shinde in an Audi|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/cctv-footage-shows-sachin-vaze-driving-with-accused-shinde-in-an-audi-969338.html|url-status=live|website=deccan herald}}</ref>Officer Shinde had allegedly asked Hiren to meet him at [[Ghodbunder Road]]. Shinde was a constable in the same crime branch unit where Vaze was posted, and was already serving a life sentence after being convicted in the fake encounter case of ''Lakhan Bhaiyya,'' but was out on furlough.  

<b>Extortion allegation</b> Vaze's supervisor, [[Param Bir Singh]], who had worked closely with him, was removed from his post of Mumbai Police Commissioner. Singh claimed, in a detailed letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, that Vaze was involved in a scheme to collect [[Indian rupee sign|₹]]100 [[Crore]] from businesses in Mumbai per month as demanded by the Maharashtra home minister [[Anil Deshmukh]].<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/param-bir-singh-letter-maharashtra-cm-uddhav-thackeray-full-text-1781642-2021-03-20 Full text of ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh's sensational letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, India Today,  March 20, 2021]</ref><ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/anil-deshmukh-minister-in-eye-of-storm-7237706/ Anil Deshmukh: The rise and fall of Maharashtra’s unique statesman, Zeeshan Shaikh, Indian Express, March 21, 2021]</ref> Deshmukh's office denied the claim and stated that Param Bir Singh made false allegations against him to save himself from legal action.<ref>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtra-home-minister-anil-deshmukh-rubbishes-param-bir-singh-s-extortion-claims-101616248976454.html Param Bir Singh alleges Deshmukh asked Vaze to extort ₹100 cr; minister denies, Amit Chaturvedi, Hindustan Times, MAR 20, 2021]</ref><ref>[https://www.tv9hindi.com/state/maharashtra/former-mumbai-commissioner-parmbir-singh-letter-raised-several-questions-on-anil-deshmukh-587280.html क्या मनसुख हिरेन केस NIA के पास जाने से महाराष्ट्र की राजनीति में मची हलचल?, Shivangi Thakur, TV9,21 March 21]</ref>

Devendra Fadnavis claimed that Vaze and Param Bir Singh were just pawns in the hands of the current [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] (a coalition of [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]], [[Shiv Sena]] and [[Indian National Congress]]) state government.<ref>[https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/fadnavis-mansukh-hiren-was-murdered-top-cops-buried-evidence-to-save-political-bosses-in-ambani-case/articleshow/81562049.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Fadnavis: Mansukh Hiren was murdered, top cops buried evidence, Mumbai Mirror, Mar 18, 2021]</ref> Param Bir Singh asked the Supreme Court on March 22 for a [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] probe against Deshmukh, claiming interference by him in police investigations.<ref>[Ex-Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh moves SC for CBI probe against Deshmukh, Utkarsh Anand, Hindustan Times, March 22, 2021]</ref>