Sachin Waze Used Extortion Money To Fund Terror Threat to Ambani Family :NIA Chargesheet
Dismissed Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze used money he collected through extortion to execute the terror threat to businessman Mukesh Ambani's family and eliminate Mansukh Hiran, a "weak link" in the conspiracy, the NIA alleged in its charge sheet. The agency claimed that the motive behind Waze's alleged crime was to re-establish himself as a "super cop" to regain lost...
Dismissed Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze used money he collected through extortion to execute the terror threat to businessman Mukesh Ambani's family and eliminate Mansukh Hiran, a "weak link" in the conspiracy, the NIA alleged in its charge sheet.
The agency claimed that the motive behind Waze's alleged crime was to re-establish himself as a "super cop" to regain lost glory following his reinstatement in the Mumbai Police force in 2020, after 16 years.
Waze himself parked the Mahindra Scorpio Vehicle near Ambani's residence with 20 gelatine sticks (explosives) and a threat note on February 24, 2021, and subsequently ordered businessman Mansukh Hiran's murder, NIA alleges.
"…in order to put the Ambani family in fear of death and commit terrorist acts," the charge sheet states.
The NIA alleges that Waze forced Hiran to take responsibility for planting the explosives. When he refused, Waze and others planned to bump off Hiran, sitting in the Mumbai Police Commissionerate Compound.
Hiran was lured and murdered by hired assassins, under Pradeep Sharma's guidance. His body was fished out from Thane creek outside Mumbai on March 5, the agency said.
"Through extortion, he was collecting huge amount of money, part of which was used for the commission of the instant crime. As evident from the threat note, placed along with the explosives in the vehicle planted by accused Sachin Waze (A1) himself on Carmichael Road, this was an act of terror on the part of Waze.
The intent was clearly to terrorize wealthy and prosperous individuals and also to extort money by putting them in fear of dire consequences. The post on Telegram channel Jaish Ul Hind appears to be a deliberate attempt to add credibility to the above-said act of terror, and the murder of Mansukh Hiran was a direct outcome of the said act of terror."
The NIA alleged that Waze had asked Hiran to file a missing complaint regarding theft of the Scorpio vehicle so that he could use it in the crime. Fake number plates, with a registration number used by the convoy for Nita Ambani's security, was affixed to the Scorpio.
After placing the car near Ambani's residence, he eventually got the case transferred to the Crime Intelligence Unit, Mumbai Police, which he headed. Incriminating CCTV footage etc was destroyed.
On March 5, NIA alleged that Waze intentionally conducted a false raid so that his location would show him performing duty far from the scene of crime pertaining to the murder of Mansukh Hiran. After Hiran's murder, Waze tried to project the same as a case of suicide by circulating such news through his contacts in the field of journalism, the agency said.
The NIA has cited the statements of 178 witnesses, including 20 protected witnesses. One of them is an eye witness to Waze parking the Scorpio vehicle and to Waze's alleged visit to the then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's house on February 24, 2021.
Former Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh has accused Deshmukh of demanding a monthly cut of Rs. 100 crore from Waze by running an extortion racket from Bars.
Who Are the Other Accused and What is Their Role?
The accused are as follows:
- Sachin Hindurao Waze (dismissed Assistant Police Inspector)
- Naresh Ramniklal Gor (bookie) – Procured Benami Sim Cards used in Hiran's Murder
- Vinayak Balasaheb Shinde (dismissed constable, convict) - Introduced Hotels, Bars & Restaurant owners who intend to run businesses illegally by giving illegitimate monthly amounts/Hafta to Waze.
- Riyazuddin Hisamuddin Kazi (dismissed cop) – Waze's associate, procured fake vehicle numbers.
- Sunil Dharma Mane (dismissed Police Inspector) – Attended conspiracy meetings to eliminate Hiran. Called up Hiran pretending to safeguard him from arrest in the Ambani case and then handed him over to the hired killers.
- Santosh Atmaram Shelar (hired assassin)- At Pradeep Sharma's behest, convinced the other assassins; Picked up Hiran from Mane and took him to the Tavera Vehicle in which Hiran was murdered.
- Anand Pandurang Jadhav, Satish Tirupati Mothkuri, Manish Vasantbhai Soni (hired assassins)- Along with Shelar, killed Mansukh Hiran inside the car Tavera Car. Dumped his body in Thane Creek.
- Pradeep Rameshwar Sharma (former encounter specialist) – Paid Shelar huge amounts for the murder, which he received from Sachin Waze.
The National Investigation Agency has accused Waze, Sharma, Mane and the four alleged killers under the IPC, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for offences of 302(murder), 120B (conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence), 364 (kidnapping), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property) and sections 16(punishment for a terrorist Act), 18(punishment for conspiracy) & 20(punishment for being a member of a terrorist gang) of UA (P) Act.
Waze is additionally charged under the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act.
Case Title: Sachin Hindurao Waze & Ors v. NIA
Also Read: Ambani Bomb Scare Case: NIA Files Chargesheet Against Sachin Waze, Pradeep Sharma And 8 Others