SUV owner’s wife suspects cop’s role in murder, Fadnavis demands arrest

In the Ambani bomb scare case, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded the arrest of assistant police inspector (API) Sachin Vaze for the death of Mansukh Hiren.

Hiren (46) had been the owner of the explosives-laden SUV which was found outside Mukesh Ambani’s Mumbai residence. Hiren was found dead in a creek in Thane last week.

The BJP leader alleged that Hiren was killed in the car and his body dumped in the creek afterwards. He added that it was assumed that Hiren’s body will never be located but it got stuck in mud.

Fadanvis said that Hiren’s wife had said in her statement that Sachin Vaze is behind the death of her husband.

“Why is he not being arrested under Section 201 of IPC (destroying evidence)? Who is defending him?” Fadnavis said in the Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday, also demanding his suspension.

It was earlier reported that Mansukh Hiren had written a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister alleging that he was being harassed by the police and media.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said in the Assembly that the ATS is inquiring into the case.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Guardian got a copy of the statement of Vimla Hiren, wife of Mansukh. She recorded her statement in front of an ATS officer.

In the statement, she said that the Mahindra Scorpio SUV was used by her late husband for three years. In 2020, the car was given for personal use to Sachin Vaze, who was a good friend of Mansukh.

“The car was given for repairs on 5 February at my husband’s garage as its steering was not working. On 17 February, at 6:30pm, my husband went to Mumbai and took this Scorpio car. When he crossed the Mulund check post, he got to know that the steering was jammed and not working. So he parked the car near the highway,” Vimla said in her statement.

According to Vimla, on 18 February, Hiren complained that his Scorpio was missing at the Vikhroli police station, and on 25 February, he came to know through news channels that his car was used in the Ambani bomb scare. “The Ghatkopar police and ATS officer called up my husband late at night. My husband said that he has already filed a car theft complaint at the Vikhroli police station,” she said.

“On 26, 27 and 28 February, my husband was with Sachin Vaze all day. On 1 March, my husband got a call from the Byculla police station for an inquiry. On 2 March, my husband said that he went with Sachin Vaze for the inquiry. On 2 March, he wrote a letter to the CM, HM, CP Mumbai and CP Thane, saying journalists and police were harassing him. I asked my husband whether the police had beaten him and he said, no,” stated Vimla.