Hinting at Vaze's 'deep links' with Sena leaders, Devendra Fadnavis demands probe into his 'political bosses'

Fadnavis said the entire episode reminds him of the 90s when people had seen the criminalisation of politics in Mumbai

With the controversy surrounding the arrest of Mumbai policeman Sachin Vaze culminating into the sudden transfer of Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took to the press in the national capital insisting that the matter can't be over with Mumbai Police Commissioner's transfer. He further added that Sachin Vaze's political bosses must be found out.

"Who are behind this? That should be probed. Political bosses who operated Vaze will have to be found out," he told a press conference.

Fadnavis on Wednesday targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and went to the extent of claiming that when he (Fadnavis) was Maharashtra chief minister, Thackeray as Sena chief had called him and pressured him in 2018 to seek reinstatement of Vaze, who was then in suspension from service into the state police force. The BJP and Shiv Sena were then alliance partners.

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Fadnavis had earlier said that Vaze's arrest in connection with the explosives-laden vehicle found near Ambani's home was just the beginning of the flow of information about the case.

The entire episode, which has sunk more and more into mystery following the security scare outside India's richest businessman's residence and then Hiren's death, reminds him of the 90s when people had seen the criminalisation of politics in Mumbai, Fadnavis said. Hiren owned the SUV found with gelatin sticks.

"A vehicle with gelatin sticks is planted by the police department and then Mansukh Hiren, who is the most important link, is murdered. This never happened in the history of Mumbai and Maharashtra," Fadnavis said.

Also read — Ambani bomb scare case: NIA to probe 'other players' involved in conspiracy

Vaze had led the team that arrested journalist Arnab Goswami in November last year in a suicide abetment case. The BJP has said Vaze had in past joined Shiv Sena while he was under suspension.

Fadnavis demanded that the NIA, which has taken over the case of Assistant Inspector of police Sachin Waze in connection with the explosives-laden vehicle found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's home, should now also take over Mansukh Hiren's mysterious death.

Hiren was the owner of the explosives-laden vehicle found near Ambani's residence. Businessman Mansukh Hiren's wife had claimed that the Scorpio was stolen from his possession and that the SUV was being used by Vaze for some time.

Also read — Ambani bomb threat case: Damage control exercise in Mumbai

Vaze, credited with eliminating 63 alleged criminals in 'encounters' was himself arrested on March 13 in the case related to the recovery of an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in south Mumbai on February 25.

The NIA taking over the case has invited the charge from Sena that this probe would lower the morale of Maharashtra police but it has been vehemently denied by Fadnavis

Meanwhile, Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil had earlier ruled out the possibility of Maharashtra Home Minister and party leader Anil Deshmukh losing his job.

(With inputs from PTI)