Ambani security threat: Political slugfest over death of car owner

Fadnavis accused the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of shielding assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and called for his arrest under section 201 of Indian Penal Code

Mumbai Maharashtra leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded the arrest of a senior police officer in connection with the death of auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran, linked to the vehicle found parked outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence last month with 20 sticks of gelatin and a threatening letter.

An SUV with explosives was found near Ambani’s house on February 25. Hiran, a 48-year-old Thane resident, claimed it was stolen from his possession a week earlier.(PTI)

Fadnavis accused the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of shielding assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and called for his arrest under section 201 of Indian Penal Code, which pertains to causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information. He referred to a statement by Hiran’s wife, Vimla, 43, to the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on March 7.

“In her statement, Mansukh Hiran’s wife has said that the car found outside Antilia, industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s South Mumbai residence, was in possession of Sachin Vaze from November 20 last year. The car was given to him for use as Hiren knew Vaze who was the former’s customer. The vehicle was with Vaze before it was returned to Hiren after four months,” Fadnavis said on Tuesday.

Vaze, who heads the crime intelligence unit (CIU) of the Mumbai police crime branch, did not respond to several calls and messages.

An SUV with explosives was found near Ambani’s house on February 25. Hiran, a 48-year-old Thane resident, claimed it was stolen from his possession a week earlier.

He was found dead in creek in Thane on March 5 and police found handkerchiefs stuffed in his mouth. Vimla said her husband was a good swimmer and could not have died by drowning. “Taking into consideration all the above circumstances, I am sure that my husband was murdered…I suspect Sachin Vaze could have committed the said murder,” read her statement.

Fadnavis’s comments in the assembly caused an uproar among legislators, who traded accusations and brought up other unrelated cases, including the death by suicide of Dadra Nagar Haveli parliamentarian Mohan Delkar in Mumbai last month. Later, state home minister Anil Deshmukh announced a special investigation team (SIT) will be formed to probe Delkar’s death by suicide. In his note, Delkar had mentioned an administrator of the Union Territory who was a previous minister in Gujarat.

Vimla’s statement, reviewed by HT, said the SUV belonged to a certain Peter Newton who was known to Hiran. Hiran, who knew Vaze well, lent him the Scorpio in November 2020. Vaze’s driver dropped off the car at Hiran’s shop on February 5.

On February 17, the statement said Hiran took the vehicle towards south Mumbai but poor steering prompted Hiran to park the car on the side of the road. He came back next day with a mechanic but found the car stolen and lodged a police complaint.

On February 25, he identified the SUV as the same one found outside the Ambani residence. For the next three days, he was questioned and told his wife that Vaze was with him, said her statement. On March 2, Hiran wrote a letter to various authorities complaining of harassment by police and media. Vimla said she asked him if he was tortured, which Hiran denied.

The following day, Hiran told her that Vaze had advised him to get arrested and he would be out on bail within a few days, according to Vimla’s statement. On March 4, Vimala said her husband returned from his shop at 8.30pm and told her that he was going to meet a police officer.

Vimla told police that when she tried calling her husband at 11pm, his mobile phone was switched off. The next day, Hiran’s body was found.