Uncovering truth behind Mansukh’s death crucial for MVA

Mumbai, Mar 06 (PTI):
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said it was important for the “image” and “prestige” of the Maharashtra government to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of Hiren Mansukh, who was said to be the owner of the vehicle with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
Mansukh, around 45 years old, was found dead on the banks of a creek along the Mumbra-Reti Bunder road in neighboring Thane, police had said.
Talking to reporters, Raut said the mysterious death of Mansukh, whose Scorpio vehicle was used to keep explosives near Ambani’s residence, was “shocking and unfortunate”.
“It is wrong to politicise his death and put the government in the dock. There are doubts whether Mansukh’s death was a suicide or murder. He was an important witness in the case,” he said.
“The home department should unearth the truth at the earliest. It is important for the prestige and image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government,” he said.
On Friday, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had announced that the probe into the case has been handed over from Mumbai Crime Branch to the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Talking about it, Raut said that the opposition BJP’s demand is to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“But it (giving the investigation to NIA) does not mean the case would be solved immediately. The home minister has handed over the case to the ATS, which is capable of solving it. Let us have faith,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Ashish Shelar targeted the Shiv Sena-led government as he questioned the presence of an “encounter specialist” assistant police inspector at the time of Mansukh’s post-mortem.
“The encounter specialist’s presence at the post- mortem of Mansukh is suspicious as he is neither part of Thane police nor the ATS, which is probing the case. It gives an impression that there is something that this government wants to hide,” he said.