Antilia Bomb Scare: NIA officials visit Hiran’s family

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Monday visited the residence of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was murdered days after an explosive-laden SUV was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilia in Mumbai.

A Scorpio laden with gelatin sticks and a threat letter was found near Antilia, Ambani's residence in south Mumbai, on February 25. Hiran, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives outside the Ambani had claimed and lodged an FIR stating that the car was stolen. Later, he was found dead in a creek on March 5 in Thane.

The officials reached Hiran's residence in Thane (West) at around 2:20pm and left after a 3-hour meet with family members of Hiran. NIA sources said the meet was in connection with the murder case, and a new Inspector General Police (IGP) rank officer, who has joined the team, wanted to meet the family. NIA till now has arrested assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and his colleague Riyazuddin Kazi in the case who are in judicial custody till April 23.

IGP Anil Shukla of the NIA, who was spearheading the probe, was transferred after his tenure got over and now another IGP has replaced him. Earlier, a team of the NIA officials had visited Hiran's home on March 11.

Hiran's wife had then made allegations against now suspended police officer Waze and had even said that he might have killed her husband. Based on her statement, the Maharashtra ATS had registered a case of murder and arrested two people Naresh Gor and convicted police constable Vinayak Shinde, who were accused of being involved in the Hiran murder case.