Sachin Waze, a Mumbai cop who was arrested in connection with the recovery of explosives from a car near the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has confirmed his involvement in the case. The NIA arrested Vaze, a Mumbai Police assistant police inspector, on Saturday in connection with the investigation. After a 12-hour questioning, he was detained by the agency.
According to sources, Waze was involved in sticking gelatin sticks in the SUV that was discovered parked near Ambani’s multi-story residence ‘Antilia’ on February 25 and confessed his involvement when questioned about it.
Waze’s counsel, Sudeep Pasbola, argues that the arrest was made purely on speculation and that there was no clear evidence against him. “Waze was remanded in custody until March 25, but the case was continued for a hearing on Monday. The NIA has been ordered to show the court what information it has gathered and what point of the investigation it is in “Pasbola said.
Waze’s arrest was also unconstitutional, according to the prosecutor, because the accused was not told of the reason for his incarceration and was not given the chance to obtain legal counsel or contact a relative of his choosing. On these points, his arrest is unjustified and unreasonable, and the accused must be released on parole immediately when the investigation has not been concluded.
Waze was summoned to the agency’s Mumbai office in Cumballa Hill, South Mumbai, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to give a statement. He was apprehended during a 12-hour interview period with NIA officers. After the suspicious death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who believed the vehicle had been robbed a week ago, the case was handed over to the NIA. His body was discovered in a creek at Thane on March 5.
Waze, a 1990-batch state cadre officer who was suspended in 2004 for his role in the custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus and was reinstated last year, is credited with removing 63 suspected offenders in ‘encounters.’ When he was on suspension, Waze joined the Shiv Sena. Waze was a Shiv Sena supporter until 2008, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently said.
