Fadnavis seeks arrest of cop Sachin Vaze

Mumbai, Mar 09: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded the arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze in connection with the mysterious death of auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of a vehicle laden with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
Fadnavis’s comments in the Maharashtra Assembly led to an uproar in the House, with the Shiv Sena raising the issue of alleged suicide of Dadra and Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha member Mohan Delkar.
Amid the noisy scenes, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal adjourned the House first for 10 minutes.
Soon after the House re-assembled, it was again adjourned for 30 minutes.
Later, Fadnavis said the treasury and opposition benches have agreed that no House business would be conducted till the Home minister makes a statement on the issue.
A Scorpio, with 20 gelatin sticks inside, was found near Antilia, Ambani’s high-rise residence in south Mumbai, on February 25. Police said the vehicle was stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18.
The mystery deepened after Hiran’s body was found in a creek last Friday in Thane district neighbouring Mumbai.
Before the adjournments, Fadnavis claimed that Hiran’s wife has given a statement that her husband may have been murdered by assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze.
The Leader of Opposition demanded that Vaze be arrested under Indian Penal Code Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence).
Fadnavis said Hiran’s wife has claimed in her statement to police that her husband knew Vaze and the Scorpio was with the police official from November 2020 to February 5, 2021.
“She had also said her husband was with Vaze on February 27, 28 and March 2. The complaint letter (of Hiran) addressed to the chief minister, DyCM and police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane which surfaced in public after his death was written on the instructions of Vaze,” Fadnavis alleged.