NIA DECLINED CUSTODY OF VAZE, MANE
In the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, the agency is expected to file a chargesheet soon
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, on Monday, turned down a plea seeking custody of dismissed police officers Sachin Vaze and Sunil Mane who are accused in the Antilia bomb scare case and for the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran. This is the second time the NIA has sought their custody to interrogate the duo.
The agency is expected to file a chargesheet in the case soon after the court had granted a 30-day extension early this month. On Saturday, the NIA filed a plea before the court, seeking a twoday custody of former assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and five-day custody of former police inspector Sunil Mane.
In its plea, the agency told the court that it had seized incriminating material against the “suspected accused” who, they said, played a key role in the crime. Earlier, Vaze had been under custodial interrogation for 28 days and Mane, for 14 days.
The NIA’s plea further stated that it needs to confront the duo. Being police officers, both are aware about how to evade interrogation and provide incorrect leads. Now, they need to be confronted with incriminating
documents that are in the agency’s possession.
Meanwhile, the court also permitted Vaze to take treatment at a private hospital for his heart ailment. His advocate Sudeep Pasbola informed the court on Monday that as per his medical reports
that were provided by JJ hospital where had taken the tests he has been advised an emergency bypass surgery on Saturday, but he has not consented for it as he prefers to be treated at a private facility. It further argued that even as an undertrial, it is his right to undergo treatment at a place of his choice. “I don’t want him to become another Stan Swamy,” Vaze’s advocate told the court. Vaze who was present in court also said, “I don’t want to become another Stan Swamy.”
Special Judge Prashant R. Sitre, in his order, directed the Taloja jail superintendent to take Vaze to SS Hospital and Research Centre in Bhiwandi and has also asked the NIA, Vaze’s advocates and jail authorities to file reports about his health before the court every fortnight, his advocates Raunak Naik and Sajal Yadav said.