[Ambani House Explosives Scare] Special Court Remands Mumbai Police Officer Sachin Waze to NIA custody till March 25

A Special Court, on Sunday, remanded Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze to the National Investigating Agency's (NIA) custody till March 25, in connection with his involvement in the explosives-laden vehicle and threat letter found near Mukesh Ambani's house, in Mumbai, on February 25, 2021. Additional Sessions Judge PR Sitre heard Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves for the NIA and advocate Sudeep Pasbola for Waze, before granting the agency his custody. Journalists were disallowed from attending the proceedings. According to official sources, Special Public Prosecutor, Sunil Gonsalves, cited statements of certain witnesses, to demonstrate Waze was part of the conspiracy. He sought Waze's custody for 14 days as more arrests were likely. Waze's counsel Sudeep Pasbola, who was assisted by advocates Rounak Naik and Waqar Pathan argued against such a long remand. He submitted that there was no direct role attributed to Waze and claimed his client was arrested on mere 'suspicion.' The court also decided a clutch of applications filed by Waze, for access to medicines in custody and home food. While the court allowed his plea for medicines, his application for home food was, rejected. The defence also filed two separate applications, the first for a copy of NIA's remand plea, as it was not provided to them, and second - to meet Waze in custody. Both the application will be argued at 2.30 pm, tomorrow. Background On February 25, an explosives-laden Scorpio Car was found near Antilia, industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house on Altamont Road in South Mumbai. The car contained 18 gelatine sticks (explosive) and a threat letter inside. The case was being investigated by Waze and his team at the Crime Branch, Mumbai. Then, Mansukh Hiran, the man who was using the car, and had claimed it was stolen a week earlier, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5. Hiran's wife blamed Waze for her husband's death. The case was then transferred to NIA, a central agency and the Anti-Terrorism Squad(ATS), a state agency. While the NIA is investigating the bomb scare, the ATS is investigating Hiran's murder. Waze was earlier refused interim protection in his anticipatory bail plea, heard by the Thane Sessions Court. He was arrested by the NIA at 11.50 pm, on Saturday and produced before the Special Court around 3 pm, on Sunday. NIA has registered an FIR u/s 286 (Negligent conduct concerning explosive substances), 465 (Punishment for forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal), 506 II (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and u/s 4(a)(b)(i) of the Explosive Substances Act (Punishment for attempt to cause an explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property).

[Ambani House Explosives Scare] Special Court Remands Mumbai Police Officer Sachin Waze to NIA custody till March 25

Sharmeen Hakim

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