JOIN USNote to arrest: Timeline of Ambani bomb threat case
Controversial police officer Sachin Vaze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday night.
Vaze (49), an Assistant Police Inspector, was grilled for 13 hours at the NIA Mumbai office at Peddar Road and placed under arrest around midnight.
The NIA has been investigating the suspicious planting of a Mahindra Scorpio SUV laden with 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter near Antilia, the Mumbai residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani, the richest businessman of India.
Here's a timeline of the events:
November 2020
Mansukh Hiren gives the Mahindra Scorpio SUV to Sachin Vaze, as he was the Thane-based automobile spare parts businessman's old client and have known each other
5 February
Sachin Vaze gives the Scorpio back to Mansukh Hiren owing to a technical snag in the steering
17 February
Mansukh Hiren parks his Scorpio after the “steering gets jammed” at the Eastern Express Highway in Vikhroli. He hires a cab and reaches Crawford Market
18 February:
Mansukh Hiren goes to Vikhroli to fetch his car, finds it missing. He lodges a complaint with Vikhroli police station in Mumbai
24-25 February
Around midnight, the Scorpio SUV was parked off Antilia at Carmichael Road, the residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani
25 February
By evening, the SUV was spotted by Police officials and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad were immediately rushed to the spot. 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter were recovered.
Investigators found that the Scorpio had a fake number plate – identical to one of the cars part of the Ambani family's security
The threatening letter reportedly read: "Ye to sirf ek trailer hai. Neeta Bhabhi, Mukesh Bhaiyya, family... ye to sirf ek jhalak hai. Agli baar ye saaman pura hokar tumhare pass aayega, aur pura intezaam ho gaya hai.”
26 February
Around midnight, the Gamdevi police station registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 465 (punishment for forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, (punishment for attempting to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosives with intent to endanger life or property)
Mumbai Police says an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level officer would spearhead the probe
The Crime Branch-CID of Mumbai Police launches parallel investigations into the case, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze is made the Investigation Officer
Mansukh Hiren’s statement is recorded at Crime Intelligence Unit at Crawford Market
RIL thank Mumbai Police
2 March
Mansukh Hiren reportedly writes to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh, Thane Police chief Vivek Phansalkar about harrassment by police
4 March
Mansukh Hiren gets a call from “some Tawde of Kandivli Crime Branch” who asks him to meet at Ghodbunder Road in Thane
5 March
Family lodge missing complaint for Mansukh Hiren with the Naupada police station
The body of Mansukh Hirenfished out from Reti Bunder in Mumbra in Thane district
Thane Police register an ADR, body sent for post-mortem at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalva
The matter figures in the Maharashtra Legislature
BJP's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demands NIA probe into the incident
Maharashtra Home Minister hands over probe to state Anti-Terror Squad
Mansukh Hiren’s friend Sandeep Khambe says that he was a good swimmer, raising questions over Hiren's death
Hiren's wife says her husband cannot commit suicide. "He was cooperating...he was called almost daily and made to sit the entire day".
6 March
Post-mortem conducted, viscera sent for chemical analysis
Last rites of Mansukh Hiren performed in Thane
7 March
Maharashtra government decides to remove Sachin Vaze from Crime Branch
ATS registers FIR in Mansukh Hiren's case
8 March
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis claims that a white Innova was also seen with the Scorpio on February 24-25, says as per his knowledge the car is till in Mumbai
Home Minister Anil Deshmukh rules out suspension, arrest of Sachin Vaze
10 March
Defending the officer, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray says: 'Sachin Vaze is not Osama Bin Laden'
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis calls Uddhav Thackeray an "advocate of Sachin Vaze"
11 March
Sachin Vaze grilled by state ATS in Mansukh Hiren death case
NIA team intensifies probe, visits places in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar
12 March
Sachin Vaze grilled by state ATS for second day
Mumbai Police transfer Sachin Vaze from Crime Branch to Special Branch attached to Citizen's Facilitation Centre
Thane Sessions Court rejects anticipatory bail application of Sachin Vaze
13 March
Sachin Vaze puts up cryptic WhatsApp message - "time to say goodbye to the world coming closer"
Sachin Vaze grilled by NIA for 13 hours, arrested mightnight
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