BJP reiterates demand for Sachin Vaze's arrest in Mansukh Hiran death case

Meanwhile, home minister Anil Deshmukh announced that Sachin Vaze, the police officer who is under scanner in the Mansukh Hiran case, will be transferred out of the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday reiterated its demand for action against police officer Sachin Vaze for his alleged role in Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran’s death.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis speaks during the Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI)

Hiran, an auto parts dealer, was linked to the SUV found parked outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25 with 20 explosive sticks of gelatin and a threatening letter.

Meanwhile, home minister Anil Deshmukh announced that Sachin Vaze, the police officer who is under scanner in the Mansukh Hiran case, will be transferred out of the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police.

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

BJP lawmaker Pravin Darekar said Hiran’s widow suspects Vaze’s role in her husband’s death. “[Former chief minister] Devendra Fadnavis readout [her]... letter in the assembly yesterday [Tuesday] but still the government has taken no action against Vaze. I demand that Sachin Vaze should be arrested or we will not let House proceedings go on. The government is shielding the officer to destroy evidence,” said Darekar on the last day of the Maharashtra assembly’s current 10-day session wheren the government needs to get the budget cleared.

Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded Vaze’s arrest and triggered an uproar in the assembly as legislators traded accusations. The ruling Shiv Sena lawmakers brought up other unrelated cases, including the death by suicide of Dadra Nagar Haveli parliamentarian Mohan Delkar in Mumbai last month. The House was adjourned several times on Tuesday.

Deshmukh on Tuesday announced that a special investigation team will be formed to probe Delkar’s death by suicide. In a note, Delkar referred to an administrator of the Union Territory, who had been a minister in a BJP-led government in Gujarat.

Fadnavis accused the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government of shielding Vaze and called for his arrest under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to causing the disappearance of evidence of an offence or giving false information.

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 assistant police inspector Vaze, who heads the crime intelligence unit of the Mumbai police crime branch, and was known to Hiran, may have killed him.

“In her statement, Mansukh Hiran’s wife has said that the car found outside Antilia, industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s South Mumbai residence, was in possession of Sachin Vaze from November 20 last year. The car was given to him for use as Hiran knew Vaze, who was the former’s customer. The vehicle was with Vaze before it was returned to Hiran after four months,” Fadnavis said on Tuesday.

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.

Sachin Vaze did not respond to repeated calls and messages. The story will be updated when and if he responds.