The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday rejected the default bail filed by Sachin Vaze, assistant police inspector dismissed in the Antilia case and the murder of automobile parts dealer Mansukh Hiren.
The court also allowed the Central agency an extension of 30 days to file the chargesheet against Mr. Vaze along with Santosh Shelar, Vinayak Shinde and Pradeep Sharma. Mr. Vaze, currently in the Taloja Central Jail, had filed for bail citing NIA’s failure to file the chargesheet within the mandated 90 days under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
On Tuesday, the NIA told the court that ₹45 lakh was paid by an accused for killing Hiren as he was the weakest link in the case. The court was also informed that witnesses were not coming forward to testify.
An SUV car was found with 20 gelatin sticks on February 25 near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence and the police said the car was stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18.
The body of car owner Hiren, an auto parts dealer, was found on March 5 in Kalwa creek. The case was transferred from the Maharashtra police to the NIA on March 8. Mr. Vaze was arrested at 11.50 p.m. on March 13 for his “role and involvement in placing the explosives-laden vehicle near Carmichael Road”.
Mr. Vaze is known as an “encounter specialist” of the Mumbai police. He was suspended for 17 years after being arrested in the custodial death of a 27-year-old software engineer Khwaja Yunus. But he was granted bail after 58 days in custody.
He was reinstated in June 2020 citing the requirement of officers in the force. He led the Raigad police team to arrest editor-in-chief of the Republic TV Arnab Goswami in the case of death of architect Anvay Naik and was probing the television rating points manipulation case as a crime branch officer.
He has been charged under Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 465 (punishment for forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable otherwise), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) 120 B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, several Sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and The Explosive Substances Act.
