NIA to probe case of explosives-laden car found near Antilia
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case of a vehicle laden with explosives being found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai, an official spokesperson said on Monday. The NIA took over the case following orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said. The agency is in the process of re-registering the case, the spokesperson added.
Vehicle's owner found dead in a creek in Thane
The Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks was found near Ambani's high-rise South Mumbai home on February 25. Police said the vehicle was stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18. Hiren Mansukh, the vehicle's owner, was found dead in a creek in Thane on Friday.
Maharashtra ATS had registered murder case against unidentified persons
The Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday had registered a case of murder against unidentified persons, two days after Mansukh's body was found in the creek. The ATS registered the FIR against unidentified persons on the order of the State Home Department under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder, the disappearance of evidence, and a criminal conspiracy, an official said.
Mansukh's family members had demanded registration of a murder case
Accordingly, all the documents related to the case were handed over to the ATS by Mumbra Police in Thane district. Earlier, family members of the deceased had demanded registration of a murder case and refused to take possession of his body. However, they finally agreed to claim the body on Saturday on the intervention of senior police officers in Thane.
Deceased had written to Thackeray alleging harassment by police, media
Mansukh had purportedly written a letter on March 2 to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, and Police Commissioners of Thane and Mumbai, alleging that he was being harassed by the police and media since the vehicle was found outside Ambani's house. He had also claimed that despite being a victim, he was treated like an accused.
Mansukh had been missing since March 4
In the letter, Mansukh claimed that he was being harassed despite not having any knowledge about the culprits, who not only "stole his vehicle but also misused it." A Thane Police official had said that Mansukh had left his shop around 8:30 pm on March 4 in an autorickshaw and since then his phone was switched off.
Mansukh's mobile phone is yet to be recovered
"His family members had lodged a missing person's report on Friday morning after he did not return home and a case was registered at Naupada Police station. By that time, a body was found at Mumbra and it was later confirmed that the deceased was Mansukh," he had said. The official also added that Mansukh's mobile phone is yet to be recovered.
No visible external injuries found on deceased's body
Officials on Saturday said the autopsy report of Mansukh reserved the opinion on the cause of his death and added that no visible external injuries were found on his body. The viscera was already sent for forensic analysis, they said.
