Sachin Waze’s attempt was to create terror in mind of Ambani family: Special NIA Judge while denying him bail – Times of India

MUMBAI: A special NIA trial court denying bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze has held that though the gelatin sticks planted in a vehicle parked in February 2021 near Antilia in south Mumbai were not connected to a detonator, it was sufficient to cause terror in the minds of people.
“Here in this case the attempt of the applicant (Waze) was to create terror in the mind of particular section of people and that is the Ambani Family”, said special Judge A M Patil and therefore Waze’s plea that sans detonator no terror could be caused, is devoid of merit.
The court in its detailed reasoned order of September 16, made available now referred to witnesses and documents on record, to say that Waze and other co-accused tried to spread terror in the mind of Ambani family and when businessman Mansukh Hiran’s whose vehicle was allegedly used, denied to accept the February 25, 2021 act as his crime, they “eliminated Mansukh by conspiring with each other. It was well planned murder.” The court said every precaution was taken to escape the clutches of law.
If released there is every possibility of Waze tampering with witnesses held by the court.
Waze’s counsel Sajal Yadav had argued that the ex-cop was falsely implicated due to inter departmental rivalry, questioned the prosecution sanction and argued lack of evidence to show Waze had planted any explosives in the vehicle. The court said the sanction cannot be said to be improper at this stage and held that Waze was silent on details of the alleged internal rivalry.
Yadav said no terror case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was made out against Waze and said there was no extortion call made to the industrialist and nor were his or family’s statement recorded.
The motive alleged against the then assistant police inspector was only to “regain his clout” said Yadav and also argued that in the recent past when the Reliance hospital and BKC school received a bomb threat, anti-terror law provisions were not invoked.
Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves for National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposing Waze’s plea said the chargesheet makes his involvement in the crimes, to commit a “terrorist act” and the “cold blooded murder” of Hiran, “crystal clear”.
To regain clout was “not the only motive behind the crime’’ said the court. It added that witness statements show that Waze “tried to spread terror… to extort money’’ and used and placed the explosive laden Scorpio near Antilia.
Waze was reinstated in the Mumbai police force in June 2020, after a long suspension and had an office in the police commissioner’s office compound said a key-witness, the court noted adding that Hiran’s son said the Scorpio in which explosives were laden was sold in November 2020 by his father to Waze and returned back next February first week on the grounds that he did not like it.
The court said Waze’s bail plea makes no mention of him having the vehicle for over two months. On February 18, 2021, Hiran had lodged a theft report with the Vikhroli police of his Scorpio which he parked by the highway the previous day. Waze said that the theft case is not closed. The NIA said Hiran handed over the Scorpio keys on February 17 night to Waze.
The court citing witness statements said Waze, mid February 2021, pursuant to a conspiracy “extorted huge cash amounts from bar owners.” The alleged murder of Hiran was on March 4, 2021.
There are a total of 10 accused. “ Matter is serious,’’ said the special court, adding, “Many of the accused are still striving for bail. If all the accused and their advocates co-operate then the delay in trial can be avoided.’’ But mere ground of delay is insufficient to grant Waze bail, the order said.
The order said a witness mentions that on March 5, 2021, police inspector Sunil Mane and co-accused met Waze , both then met the then Mumbai police chief in his office and came back at 3 pm for lunch. “In the statement of Vimala Hiran, it establishes the relevant motive and intention of applicant (Waze) and his co-accused in furtherance of larger conspiracy and commission of crime of murder of Mansukh Hiran, since Mansukh Hiran was not ready to take the blame of crime dated 25.02.2021 on his own. The applicant and co-accused hatched conspiracy and eliminated Mansukh Hiran.’’
The reasoned 43-page order said, “Prima-facie, statements of protected witnesses corroborated about the presence of Sunil Mane in the office of applicant along with Mansukh Hiran and hatching of conspiracy by the applicant, Sunil Mane, Pradeep Sharma and others at the CP office compound, Andheri (East) and at other places in Mumbai. There is sufficient evidence on record which revealed that applicant had called Mansukh Hiran to his office from 27.02.2021 till 03.03.2021 so as to persuade Mansukh Hiran to take blame of the incident dated 25.02.2021’’ and added, “ It is also established that SIM card used by Sunil Mane in the murder of Mansukh Hiran was given to him by the applicant and which was given to the applicant by Vinayak Shinde through Naresh Gaur and further to Sunil Mane at the instance of Pradeep Sharma. There is ample of evidence to show that applicant and Mansukh Hiran had planned to alleged theft of said green colour Scorpio vehicle at the instance of the applicant on or prior to 17.02.2021 and applicant had full control and possession over the said Scorpio prior to 05.02.2021… It is also established that applicant along with his associates took the physical possession of the said Scorpio and kept the vehicle opposite Shikhar Kunj Building after planting of explosives near Antilia along with threat note.’’