SUV bomb scare case: How Mansukh Hiran was trapped and murdered

Mansukh Hiran

The National Investigation Agency's (NIA) charge sheet filed in the Antilia bomb scare case raises a crucial question -- who is the main conspirator of the entire conspiracy?

The central agency in the charge sheet mentions that dismissed police officer Sachin Waze booked a room at Oberoi hotel in the name of one Sushant Khamkar for 100 nights, as he thought it would be a safe place to plan and execute the plot. At the same time, the NIA states that Waze is one of the main conspirators in the case, but does not mention who are the other key conspirators.

"The purpose of the stay in the hotel from February 16 to February 20, 2021, was part of the planning/implementation of the Antilia conspiracy," the charge sheet reads.

On the intervening night of February 24 and 25, Waze parked the explosives-laden Scorpio near Antilia. Waze removed the original number plate of the Scorpio and fixed a fake number plate belonging to the Reliance Industries, which was part of the security convoy of Mukesh's wife Nita Ambani.

"Waze wanted to give the Ambani family a direct threat with dire consequences," read the charge sheet.

On February 17, Waze directed Mansukh to park the vehicle on a service road near the flyover of Airoli Junction and hand over the key to him near the police commissioner office in south Mumbai. Hiran followed his instructions.

According to the NIA, on February 17, Waze, with the help of his personal and official drivers, parked the Scorpio at his residence in Thane. "The accused (Waze) has impressed upon the driver that the said act was part of secret operation by CIU," charge sheet further reads.

The charge sheet has not shown the involvement of dismissed officers Pradeep Sharma and Sunil Mane in the Antilia case. They have been linked to the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, but they along with the accused who killed him are charged under UAPA Act, as the murder was the direct outcome of the terrorist act committed by Waze.

On March 3, Waze met Sharma at his Andheri office and gave a bag containing a large amount in cash (bundles of currency notes of Rs 500). Sharma then contacted Shelar who arranged red Tavera on rent of Rs 1,000 and the same vehicle was used to kill Hiran.

How Hiran was grabbed and dispatched

Sunil Mane

1 Dismissed officer Sunil Mane, posing as a Crime Branch officer Tawde, called Mansukh Hiran near Suraj Water Park at Ghodbunder road in Thane around 8.30 pm on March 4. Hiran, who at his shop then, left on his bike for home to inform his wife. Graphic/Aparna Chaudhari

2 From his home, Hiran took an autorickshaw and reached the destination, where Mane was waiting for him in white Volkswagen Polo. Mane drove the car towards Fountain Hotel on Ghodbunder Road. At 9.15 pm, both reached Surekha Hotel on Ghodbunder Road and Mane parked the car by the side of the road.

3 At 9.22 pm, a red Tavera (MH 14-DN 2190) approached them. Mane directed Hiran to hand over his mobile phone and go to the Tavera, telling him that the vehicle would take him to a safer place.

Santosh Atmaram Shelar, Anand Pandurang Jadhav, Satish Tirupati Mothkari and Manish Vashantbhai Soni

4 Following his instructions, Hiran got down from Mane's car and went to the Tavera. He was made to sit in the middle row, between the accused Santosh Shelar and Anand Jadhav, on the pretext of safe transportation. Another accused, Mansukh Soni, was in the driver's seat and Satish Mothkari was in the rear seat, behind Hiran.

5 As soon as Hiran sat down in the Tavera, Jadhav and Mothkari grabbed his head from behind, covered his mouth and nose with handkerchiefs. Shelar and Jadhav held both his hands tightly when Hiran resisted and struggled.

6 Meanwhile, Mane had left towards Vasai after handing over Hiran to the killers. He switched on Hiran's mobile phone at two locations to mislead the investigation.

Pic/Rajesh Gupta

7 After Hiran was smothered, Soni drove the car towards Kasheli Bridge in Thane around 9.47 pm. He stopped the vehicle in the middle of the bridge on Thane-Bhiwandi road on the instructions of Shelar. Later, Shelar, Jadhav and Mothkari got off the vehicle and threw Hiran's body into the creek.

8 Hiran's body was discovered the next day, i.e. March 5, 2021, at Reti Bunder in Mumbra, located at least 1 km from the Kasheli Bridge