Ambani Bomb Threat Case: NIA Seizes Mercedes Driven By Sachin Vaze; Scorpio’s Number Plate, Cash & Clothes Recovered

Ambani Bomb Threat Case: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday seized a black Mercedes and recovered Rs 5 lakh cash, a note-counting machine, some clothes and the license plate of the SUV from the car.

Ambani Bomb Threat Case (Image: ANI/Twitter)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recovered an important evidence in connection with the ongoing case of Scorpio found outside Mumbai's top industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house with explosives. The central agency on Tuesday seized a black Mercedes and recovered Rs 5 lakh cash, a note-counting machine, some clothes and the license plate of the SUV from the car.

NIA IG Anil Shukla confirmed that that the seized Mercedes was used by the arrested police officer Sachin Vaze while the ownership of the car is under investigation.

“One Mercedes was recovered by NIA. The car was used by Sachin Vaze. We are looking for its owner. More than Rs 5 lakh cash, clothes and a counting machine was recovered from the car. We have recovered the number plate identical to the one which was on the Scorpio car laden with gelatin sticks form this Mercedes car," the official said.

According to the sources, the seized Mercedes was found from a car-parking near the Mumbai Crime Branch office close to the Crawford market. Sources aware of the development said that a CCTV captured Vaze outside the car in a PPE kit. The attire visible in the CCTV footage was later lit with fuel found in the seized car.

Moreover, some more fake number plates and a check shirt worn by Sachin has been recovered from the car.

Mumbai Scare Case:

A Scorpio with explosives and a threat note was found abandoned near Mukesh Ambani's residence on February 25. Upon investigating the car, it was traced to a Thane-based auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran who had apparently filed a complaint of missing car on February 17.

To everybody's shock, the Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who had claimed that the vehicle had been stolen few days back, was found dead in a creek at Thane on March 5.

His wife had claimed that her husband had given the SUV to Sachin Vaze, the first investigating officer in the bomb scare case in November, which the officer returned in the first week of February.

Soon the NIA took over the case from the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad last week and arrested Vaze for his alleged role in placing the car Antilia building. 

According to sources, the arrested police inspector Sachin Vaze told the NIA during the investigation that he was a very small part of the plan and the Shiv Sena leaders named by him played a major role. He also  denied using the SUV that was in possession of Hiran.

Meanwhile, Vaze has been booked under Section 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy, Section 286 for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance, Section 465 for forgery, Section 473 for making or possessing counterfeit seal and Section 506(2) for criminal intimidation.