"Why Proper Procedure Not Adopted?" NIA Court Pulls UP Sachin Waze, His Lawyers For Leak Of His Statement To Media

Waze was arrested by the National Investigating Agency(NIA) on March 13 and has spent 26 days in the agency's custody. On Friday, the NIA did not seek his further custody.

Special Judge PR Sitre remanded Waze in judicial custody but pulled him up For the statement which was "leaked" to the media on Wednesday, wherein he accused former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Cabinet Minister Anil Parab of asking him to extort over 100 crores.

The judge said that Waze had every right to say what he wanted but procedures should be followed.

"I had asked you to follow proper procedures. You have every right to submit whatever you want, even in the form of confession. But why was proper procedure not adopted as per the CrPC? This should not happen again."

Earlier during the hearing, NIA's counsel Sunil Gonsalves said that the court had given Waze the option to write down whatever he wanted to say to the court, but the accused took advantage of a meeting with his lawyers, and the statement was given.

"I want to bring some facts to the court's notice. On April 7, the court had given an opportunity to the accused to write whatever he wanted to say to the court, and asked him to follow proper procedure. Despite that, while he was still in NIA's custody, some documents were given by the accused to his lawyers."

He added that even NIA was not aware of this. "He was allowed to speak to his lawyers for five minutes and advantage was taken,"

While Waze is represented by a battery of lawyers, Senior Counsel, Aabad Ponda said he was surprised to hear this. "I'm unaware, and not involved in this," he said.

The judge then told Waze that he should have followed the procedure as prescribed under the CrPC. "This should not happen again."

The judge further remarked to his lawyers, "He may not understand, but you'll understand."

Meanwhile, SPP Gonsalves informed the court that Waze's health was fine and a medical report of April 8 shows that he does not require any cardiological intervention, at present. Waze had earlier sought medical attention regarding his arterial blockages.

CBI access to documents in PE against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

The Special Court, on Friday also allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation's plea seeking access to papers related to explosives case for its preliminary enquiry into allegations of corruption against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The agency registered a Preliminary Enquiry following an order of the Bombay HC, on Monday to probe corruption allegations levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh.

The order was ratified by the Apex Court, on Thursday, as it rejected the Maharashtra Government and Anil Deshmukh's appeal against the Bombay HC order.

Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hemant Gupta dismissed the petitions by observing: "Given the serious nature of allegations, and the personas involved, the matter do require an independent agency to investigate the matter. It is a matter of public confidence. We may also note that what has been ordered is only a preliminary enquiry. Therefore, we are no inclined to interfere with the impugned order".

BACKGROUND

On February 25, an explosives-laden Scorpio was found near Antilia, industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house on Altamont Road in South Mumbai. The car contained 18 gelatine sticks (explosive) and a threat letter inside. Businessman Masukh Hiran, who reported the SUV missing, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5.

Waze was heading the Mumbai Police's Crime Investigations Unit at the time and was initially investigating the case. However, after Hiran's wife accused him of involvement in her husband's suspicious death, he was shunted out and eventually suspended.

The Case was eventually taken over by the National Investigating Agency that arrested Waze on March 13, calling him the prime accused. Then Mumbai CP Param Bir was also shunted out on March 17.

Who is Sachin Waze

A known encounter specialist of the early 2000s, Waze, along with his team of constables, was suspended in 2004, after being accused in the custodial death of Parbhani based engineer - Khawja Yunus.

Waze resigned from the police force to join the Shiv Sena in 2008. However, he quit after his resignation was rejected. Soon after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) came to power in 2019, Waze and the four constables were reinstated, after 16 years.