The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned multiple times and finally for the day on Tuesday following heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition sides over the demand for suspension of Mumbai Police API Sachin Vaze in the case of death of Mansukh Hiren, who was linked to the car with explosives found near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani in south Mumbai.
The ruling Shiv Sena alleged that Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis wanted Mr. Vaze removed as he was probing the case of death of architect Anvay Naik and the case was purposely buried by Mr. Fadnavis for ulterior motives in his tenure as Chief Minister.
Reading out a statement of Hiren’s wife in the Assembly, Mr. Fadnavis claimed that it showed that Mr. Vaze was well known to Hiren and had even used the same car found outside Mr. Ambani’s house.
“His wife’s statement says that Sachin Vaze was with him for three days. He had even asked Hiren to get arrested for two-three days and assured to release him. She says that Vaze killed her husband,” said Mr. Fadnavis. He demanded that going by the statement, Mr. Vaze should be arrested immediately. He also named a person Gavade, claiming that both Mr. Gavade and Mr. Vaze were on interim bail in a case related to extortion.
“Hiren’s last mobile tower location was near Gavade’s property in Vasai and his body was found in a creek. This evidence is enough to immediately arrest Vaze as he can even destroy the evidence,” Mr. Fadnavis stated.
Following the ruckus, Assembly proceedings were adjourned multiple times. Mr. Fadnavis alleged that the government was trying to safeguard Mr. Vaze fearing his probe may spill out several big names. “This government is scared,” he alleged.
During the commotion, the Sena raised the issue of the death of Dadra and Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha member Mohan Delkar, who had allegedly named former Gujarat Home Minister Praful K Patel in his suicide note.
ATS probing case: Deshmukh
Home Minister Anil Deshmukh clarified that the State’s Anti Terrorism Squad was probing the case and Mr. Vaze had no relation to it whatsoever. “We will not spare the guilty,” he asserted.
Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the BJP wanted Mr. Vaze out since he was probing Naik’s death, which Mr Fadnavis did not probe. “Since he is scared the truth may come out, the BJP wants Mr. Vaze out of the force,” he added.
Mr. Deshmukh too said that Mr. Fadnavis was targeting the police officer to keep him out of investigation into the Naik case.
As sloganeering and ruckus continued despite multiple adjournments, the House was finally adjourned for the day.
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