Mumbai: The man seen outside Antilia wearing a PPE kit was Sachin Vaze himself, his staff revealed, alleging that Vaze “destroyed his PPE kit”. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) clarified that Vaze was not wearing a PPE but an “oversized kurta-pajama” and his head was covered “with a large handkerchief”. The NIA has been probing the bomb scare case outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai.
Vaze is at the focus of the investigation and has already been arrested for his alleged involvement in planting explosives in the SUV found near Antilia. A total of 20 gelatin sticks were seized and a threat note was recovered, along with fake number plates on February 25.
Here’s what NIA has said so far:
Who is Sachin Vaze?
Born on 22 February 1972, Sachin Hindurao Vaze joined Maharashtra Police Force in 1990. He is popularly known as an ‘encounter specialist’ with the Mumbai Encounter Squad.
Vaze was previously suspended in 2004 over his role in the custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus and was reinstated last year.
He is credited with the deaths of as many as 63 alleged criminals. He also led the team that arrested journalist Arnab Goswami in November last year in a suicide abetment case and was a member of Shiv Sena till 2008.
Encounter specialist Vaze was suspended from his duty on Sunday and sent to NIA custody till March 25. In its order dismissing Sachin Vaze’s interim bail plea, the Thane court had said that his “custodial interrogation is necessary”.
Vaze was arrested on Saturday following nearly 12 hours of questioning.