‘Vaze paid ₹45L to get Mansukh Hiran killed’
MUMBAI: Opposing the bail plea of former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its affidavit, stated that he was the main conspirator in the elimination of Thane trader Mansukh Hiran. The affidavit filed in the Bombay high court on Wednesday said that Sharma hired henchmen to eliminate Hiran using the ₹45 lakh paid to him by now-dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze. The HC sought Sharma’s reply to the NIA affidavit and posted the hearing to July 17.
On Wednesday, the division bench of Justices AS Chandurkar and GA Sanap was hearing Sharma’s appeal against the order of a special court which rejected his bail application in February. The bench was informed by NIA’S advocate Sandesh Patil enumerated the grounds for rejection of the application and said that investigations by the central agency revealed that Sharma had been the main conspirator in the elimination of Hiran.
The NIA, in its affidavit, stated that Vaze had hatched the conspiracy to harass the Ambani family by placing the explosives-laden SUV outside Antilia, the residence of Mukesh Ambani on February 25. Vaze had called Hiran to his office and asked him to take the blame for placing the car but after Hiran refused, Vaze contacted Sharma and paid him ₹45 lakh to hire hitmen to eliminate Hiran.
NIA states that Sharma not only hired the hitmen and provided them with SIM cards but also assisted them in fleeing from the country after they had murdered Hiran. The affidavit said that Sharma and the other accused committed a “heinous and serious offence” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court has directed Sharma to file a rejoinder to the NIA affidavit and posted the hearing to July 17.