NIA raids Sachin Waze’s office at police HQ, another CIU API under scanner

Sachin Waze at the police commissioner’s office. File pic

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at the office of the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) on the fourth floor of Mumbai Police Headquarters at Crawford Market. Apart from suspended police officer Sachin Waze, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Riyazuddin Kazi of the CIU is also under the NIA's scanner. In another development, the NIA seized a Mercedes which was allegedly used by Waze and in which was found the original number plate of the Scorpio that was planted outside the Ambani residence on Feb 5.

The man captured in CCTV camera footage outside Antilia on Feb 25 is believed to be Sachin Waze

The NIA has also seized a Mercedes registered in the name of a Manisha Bhavsar. This is because, according to sources, Waze came to the Commissioner of Police office in the Mercedes on Saturday, March 13 and then went to the NIA for questioning.

The agency suspects that Waze met Mansukh Hiran in the same vehicle on February 17 when Hiran came to South Mumbai in an Ola after parking his Scorpio near Vikhroli. "During the meet, Hiran allegedly gave the keys of the Scorpio to Waze, who gave them to someone else. This person reached Vikhroli and took the car to Vaze's residence in Thane," an NIA officer said.

The NIA has also discovered that Hiran travelled from CSMT to Thane in the same Mercedes. The vehicle was seized from a parking lot. "The vehicle was searched in front of Waze and we found Rs 5,70,000 in cash, a cash counting machine, the original number plate of the Scorpio found near Antilia, some clothes, and bottles of kerosene and diesel," the officer said. The clothes are the ones Waze was wearing on February 24. The Scorpio car was left outside Antilia early on February 25.

‘Waze was outside Antilia'
A senior NIA officer confirmed to mid-day that the man near Antilia in the CCTV footage on February 25 was Waze but he was not wearing a PPE suit. What was thought to be a PPE suit was in fact a white kurta and Waze had covered his face with another white cloth. "Waze burnt the clothes somewhere, using diesel or kerosene. He had admitted everything," an NIA officer said.

The Mercedes seized by NIA had

"We suspect that the kerosene and diesel were used to destroy multiple pieces of evidence, including the kurta he allegedly wore on February 25 and was seen walking in near Antilia," the officer added.

On February 18, Hiran registered a theft case with Vikhroli police. The offence was registered although he was not the owner of the vehicle but had insurance in his name. "If there is any negligence, we will take departmental action," a senior officer of the Mumbai police said.

According to Vikhroli police, Hiran came to the police station at 2 pm and a constable went to the spot with him. They visited the dumping yard and traffic police chowki and at 8 pm, he came back to the police station and an FIR was regsitered. Mumbai police sources confirmed that the case was registered without any pressure but some calls were made regarding the case on February 27, which are being probed now.

Allegations against others
NIA officers also confirmed that seven personnel from Mumbai police have been questioned, including API Kazi, API Prakash Howal, three CIU staff and two drivers of the Innova. An ACP and a PI rank officer have also been questioned.

According to sources, there are serious allegations against API Kazi, who went to take the at Waze's residence at Saket Cooperative Housing Society, Thane. "Kazi went to the building and gave officials a handwritten letter signed by him, not Waze, seeking the DVR that contained CCTV footage of the building compound and outer area. This was never shown as seized property in the case but a mention has been made in the case diary," a Crime Branch officer said. The DVR has been sent for forensic analysis.

Officers said that Kazi is also suspected to be the one who made the fake number plates and took the DVRs of the shops where he got them made. "Sometimes, Crime Branch uses fake number plates for operations but an officer has to justify the same. In this case, some offence has been committed," an officer said.

CIU raid
According to sources, NIA informed senior officers of Mumbai police before carrying out the raids at the CIU office. Waze had 20-25 staff working under him. "The NIA has seized some documents, laptop, mobile phone and an iPad belonging to Waze," a Mumbai police officer said. The NIA team reached the place around 8 pm on Monday and were done on Tuesday around 4 am.

Officers kept in the dark
Sources in the Mumbai police said that Waze and his team always kept senior officers in the dark by saying the vehicles involved in the bomb scare were untraceable beyond Thane. "After Devendra Fadanvis raised allegations in the assembly, he was questioned by senior officers but he denied the allegations by saying that he is being targeted for political purpose," a crime branch officer said.

On February 27, when Hiran was being questioned by Crime Branch officers, Waze told them that he was an acquaintance. However, officials didn't suspect anything at the time. They became suspicious of Waze only after Hiran's body was found.