Antilia Case: NIA Arrests Shiv Sena Leader Pradeep Sharma, Suspected Of Planning Mansukh Hiren's Murder

The NIA team reached Pradeep Sharma's house along with CRPF jawans.

Mumbai: The NIA, which is probing the Antilia case in Mumbai, has arrested former "encounter specialist" Pradeep Sharma. NIA team conducted a raid at his residence in its probe over the Antilia bomb scare case. 

The NIA team reached Pradeep Sharma's house along with CRPF jawans.

NIA conducted a raid at the residence of Shiv Sena leader and former 'encounter specialist' of Mumbai Police, Pradeep Sharma.

As per early inputs, Pradeep Sharma was on the radar of NIA for a long time but the agency did not have strong evidence against Pradeep Sharma in this case. Pradeep Sharma lives in the Bhagwan Bhavan building of the JP Nagar area in Andheri, Mumbai. His residence is on the sixth floor of this building. 

The Shiv Sena leader has been arrested as he is suspected to be the "mastermind" in the Mansukh Hiren case. Early inputs reveal that he is accused of planning, plotting, executing, and giving logistical support for what was deemed as a suspicious death early on.

The former "encounter specialist" along with 2 others was presented to the special NIA court. The three accused have sent to police custody till June 28.

Previously, Sharma had been questioned by the NIA for two days at its office in south Mumbai as part of the probe.

The central investigation agency had earlier arrested former police officers Sachin Waze, Riyazuddin Kazi, Sunil Mane, former police constable Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gour for their involvement in the case.

It had recently arrested Santosh Shelar and Anand Jadhav in this connection. The NIA has said that both of them were allegedly involved in the conspiracy to plant an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence.

A Scorpio car having as many as 20 gelatin sticks was found near 'Antilia', Ambani's multi-storey residence in South Mumbai, on February 25. Police had said it had been stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18. The Crime Branch of Mumbai investigating the case had recorded the statement of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the vehicle.

A vehicle spare parts businessman, Manshukh, had said he had lodged a police complaint after the SUV was stolen. On Friday, his family members approached Naupada Police Station in Thane saying he had gone missing. Later his body was found on the banks of the creek along the Mumbra Reti Bunder road.

More detail about the raid is awaited.

(With Agency Inputs)