Vaze colleague held, remanded to NIA custody
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested Mumbai Police’s assistant police inspector Riyazuddin Kazi over the alleged conspiracy related to the planting of an explosivesladen car outside the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and the subsequent death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, people familiar with the developments said.
Kazi, who was posted in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) along with tainted officer Sachin Vaze, said to be the mastermind in both cases, was aware of Vaze’s plans and “actively” took part in the destruction of evidence after the crimes, an officer said on condition of anonymity.
He was arrested around 12.30am on Sunday after hours of questioning and produced before a special court during the day, which remanded him to NIA custody till April 16.
KAZI WAS AWARE OF VAZE’S PLANS AND “ACTIVELY” TOOK PART IN THE DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE AFTER THE CRIMES, A OFFICER SAID
NEW DDELHI/ MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested Mumbai Police’s assistant police inspector Riyazuddin Kazi over the alleged conspiracy related to the planting of an explosivesladen car outside the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and the subsequent death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, people familiar with the developments said.
Kazi, who was posted in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) along with tainted officer Sachin Vaze, said to be the mastermind in both cases, was aware of Vaze’s plans and “actively” took part in the destruction of evidence after the crimes, an officer said on condition of anonymity.
He was arrested around 12.30 am on Sunday after hours of questioning and produced before a special court during the day, which remanded him to NIA custody till April 16.
Kazi was shifted out of the Mumbai Crime Branch unit last month after NIA arrested Vaze on March 13 for allegedly devising the entire plan to regain his lost glory in the Mumbai Police, as first reported by HT. The agency also took over investigations into the murder of Hiran, saying it was a “connected” offence and that Vaze killed the auto spare parts dealer after he refused to take the blame for the explosives-laden vehicle.
A second officer said Kazi destroyed vital evidence related to the case such as a fake vehicle registration plate and the digital video recorder (DVR) of the housing society where Vaze lives. NIA earlier questioned Kazi for several days to join the dots in the probe. “He was also reportedly part of the meetings where the alleged conspiracy to kill Hiran was hatched, but this aspect is being further investigated,” the second officer said on condition of anonymity.
In a related development, the CBI questioned former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh’s personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde to establish whether the allegations that Deshmukh asked Vaze to collect ₹100 crore every month from hotels, bars and restaurants were true. The allegations have been levelled by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.