Hiren murder case: Accused will be taken to Mumbra creek
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will on Monday take two men it had arrested in connection with the Mansukh Hiren murder case to Mumbra creek in the neighboring Thane district where his body was found on March 5, an official said. The ATS on Saturday night arrested suspended policeman Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gaur in connection with the alleged murder of Hiren.
Suspended police officer Waze has emerged as a prime accused
"Suspended policeman Vinayak Shinde and bookie Naresh Gaur will be taken to Retibunder area near Mumbra creek where Hiren's body was found (on March 5)," the official said. According to the ATS, Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze, now suspended and in the custody of the NIA, had played a key role and emerged as the prime accused in the Hiren murder case.
Earlier, ATS DIG Lande claimed to have solved the case
On Sunday, Maharashtra ATS DIG Shivdeep Lande posted a message on his Facebook account stating that Hiren's murder case was cracked. Lande also posted his picture saluting the National Flag. He stated that he salutes all his officers who worked day and night to work fair on this case and that it was a very challenging case in his life.
Shinde and Waze were allegedly in touch since last year
Shinde is a convict in the 2006 Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter case who came out of jail on furlough last year, an ATS official had said, adding that Shinde had been in touch with Waze since then. Prima facie, it was Shinde who called Hiren from suburban Kandivali by identifying himself as "Tawde saheb" on March 4, a day before his body was found.
Union Home Ministry has handed the murder case to NIA
Waze is currently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the recovery of the vehicle containing gelatin sticks and a threat letter which was found parked near Ambani's multi-story residence Antilia. The Union Home Ministry had handed over the Hiren murder case to the NIA on Saturday.
Arrests a major breakthrough in the Hiren case: ATS official
"Sachin Waze is a prime accused in the Hiren murder case. He had played a key role. During the probe, the ATS found that Gaur had provided five SIM cards to Waze and Shinde for the crime. Shinde used to help Waze in his illegal activities," the official had said. He added that the arrests were a major breakthrough in the Hiren case.
ATS had earlier registered case against unidentified persons
The ATS had earlier registered a case under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of an offense or giving false information to screen offender), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) against unidentified persons in connection with Hiren's death.
