"Evidence Is Planted": Tells Sachin Waze As Special Court Extends His NIA Custody Till April 7

Even as a Special Court extended the NIA custody of suspended police officer Sachin Waze till April 7 in connection with the explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house and the consequent murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, Waze claimed that evidence is being planted against him. "The recovery is based on their own skill and volition, and foisted upon me," Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda said about the recovery of a DVR, CPU, laptop and two number plates from the Mithi River, last Sunday. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh had cited the recovery of these articles, among other things, to seek Waze's further custody for six days. He said the articles were recovered in a distorted form and needed to be examined. Ponda vehemently opposed him to submit that the alleged recovery was made a week ago."The NIA is not telling the court this." Waze has not made any disclosure statement to the NIA, he added. Ponda argued it was a planted recovery that had nothing to do with him. "The Mithi River is 17.5 km in length, it has a catchment area 295 hectares, it is a deep area. There is no question of finding all these articles in the river." Ponda said that Mithi is accessible to everyone and "Anyone can come and dump anything they want there." Earlier during the hearing, Singh submitted that Waze had a joint account and locker in DCB Bank's Versova Branch. There was over Rs 26 lakh in the locker on the day of his arrest, however, on March 18, money and articles were removed from the locker, he said, adding, that they wanted to investigate what was taken out from the locker after Waze's arrest. Singh also said NIA has seized a Mercedez car on April 2, which needs investigation and that Waze needs to be confronted with incriminating material recovered from co-accused Vinayak Shinde's house. "35 Panchnamas done," Singh told the court. Significantly Waze was moving suspiciously towards the scene of offence on March 4 (the day Mansukh Hiran was allegedly murdered), according to an ITDR Analysis, Singh submitted. "We want to find out all aspects." Singh said that the NIA has found a diary from a SoBo Club where there is mention of a large amount being paid by the owner, to Waze. "We want to find out why was such a huge amount being paid," Singh said. On instructions, Ponda denied he held any joint account or locker. The court after hearing both the sides extended Waze's custody till April 7. SACHIN WAZE's CARDIAC ISSUES Waze had moved the Special Court, on Thursday, seeking consultation with a cardiologist for his heart blockages. On Saturday, he informed the court that he has a cardiac history and had suffered a stroke, on Sunday. NIA submitted they have done an ECG and 2D Echo, and nothing of concern was revealed. Moreover, a doctor had advised him a bypass surgery in 2019, but he didn't do it then. NIA said they are providing the required treatment. The Special court then directed NIA to submit a detailed report on his health, on April 7. BACKGROUND An explosives-laden Scorpio was found near Ambani's residence here on February 25. Mansukh Hiran, who had claimed that the vehicle had been stolen from his possession a week earlier, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5. Waze was arrested on March 13 and remanded to custody till March 25. His custody was further extended to April 3, after the stringent UAPA Act was applied to the case.

"Evidence Is Planted": Tells Sachin Waze As Special Court Extends His NIA Custody Till April 7

Sharmeen Hakim

Tags