Cop Vaze transferred out of crime branch: minister

MUMBAI: Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday announced that Sachin Vaze, the police officer who is under the scanner in the Mansukh Hiren case, will be transferred out of the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police. The Opposition had created a ruckus in the legislative council demanding Vaze’s suspension. The home minister also announced that Dadra Nagar Haveli administrator Praful Patel has been booked under Prevention of Atrocities Act in connection with the suicide of MP Mohan Delkar.

The BJP said that Hiran’s widow suspected Vaze’s involvement in his death. The Opposition sought his suspension and threatened not to allow House proceedings to continue.

Amid din in the legislative council, Deshmukh said, “We have decided to transfer Sachin Vaze. He will be moved from Crime Branch. An impartial inquiry will be done and whoever is guilty will face action.”

He added, “The truth will come out. If the Opposition has any evidence, they should bring it forward. The government is not going to back anybody in this case.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis demanded Vaze’s arrest. Fadnavis referred to the statement of Hiran’s widow, Vimla, 43, to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) after her husband’s body was found washed up in a creek in Thane district neighbouring Mumbai on March 5, hours after his family had reported him missing since the previous night. In the statement reviewed by HT, Vimla said she was sure that her husband was murdered, and Vaze, who heads the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police crime branch, and was known to Hiran, may have killed him. On March 7, the ATS registered a case of the murder of the 48-year-old Thane businessman against unknown persons based on Vimla’s statement.

Vaze did not respond to repeated calls and messages.

DESHMUKH ALSO SAID THAT DADRA NAGAR HAVELI ADMINISTRATOR PRAFUL PATEL HAS BEEN BOOKED