Waze procured explosives found in SUV near Ambani’s house, says NIA

PTI, Mar 31, 2021, 1:37 PM IST

Mumbai: The gelatin sticks found in an SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai last month were procured by suspended police officer Sachin Waze, NIA sources claimed on Wednesday.

However, they did not elaborate on the source of the explosives.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, has also found that Waze along with his driver parked the SUV near Ambani’s house, the sources said.

”The gelatin sticks, which were placed in the SUV, were procured by Waze,” a source said.

The NIA has CCTV footage that shows the presence of Waze at the spot, the sources said.

As a part of the probe into the case, the NIA team is going to collect CCTV footage of the compound of the Mumbai police commissioner’s office and surrounding areas, they said, adding that this will establish Waze’s movements and other aspects.

There were some attempts to tamper with the CCTV footage and digital video recorders (DVRs) of the police chief’s office, but a majority of the footage is available, the sources said.

The probe agency is verifying whether the accused person (Waze) destroyed any DVR of the Mumbai police commissioner’s office and the surrounding area, they said.

Waze allegedly tried to destroy the CCTV footage and DVRs of Saket society in neighbouring Thane, where he was staying, as well as of a shop making number plates in Thane by throwing them into some water bodies, the sources said.

The NIA on Sunday recovered a laptop, a printer, two hard disks, two vehicle number plates, two DVRs and two CPUs from the Mithi river here with the help of divers, they said.

Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13.

The agency is probing the alleged role of Waze in parking the explosives-laden SUV near Ambani’s residence on February 25 and in the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

The body of Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV, was found in a creek in Mumbra town of Thane district on March 5.