Jaijeet Singh, Additional Director General (ADG) of police in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), said on Tuesday that investigations are on to find out if more people are involved in the murder of automobile parts dealer Mansukh Hiren.
After the ATS was asked to take over the probe on March 6, officials recorded the statement of Hiren’s wife who expressed her apprehension about the involvement of the now arrested and suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze in the murder.
Sachin Vaze was arrested on March 12, following which a detailed statement was recorded, said Mr. Singh. The statement refuted allegations that he knew Hiren or had a part in his murder.
Maharashtra ATS investigations revealed that Mr. Vaze had used five SIM cards procured from Gujarat through Naresh Ramniklal Gor and police constable Vinayak Shinde. Soon thereafter a team was sent to Gujarat. The SIM cards were procured in the name of a company in Gujarat. “We found that the phones in which the SIM cards were used have been destroyed by the accused,” said Mr. Singh.
ATS officials had procured CCTV footage from Mumbai and Thane, and efforts were on to recover footage that may have been destroyed by the accused.
“We also recovered a Volvo car from Daman which was allegedly used by the accused. FSL Kalina is carrying out forensic investigations,” said Mr Singh.
“We have recorded the statements of many witnesses. And there are some witnesses who are willing to record their statement under Code of Criminal Procedure, which could then be used as evidence. And the probe will continue,” he said.