Mumbai Police officer Riyaz Kazi arrested by NIA, agency says he helped Sachin Vaze in Antilia bomb scare conspiracy

Sachin Vaze is being investigated in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case. The NIA is investigating the case, along with the death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, whose car was found parked outside Mukesh Ambani's residence with gelatin sticks.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested Mumbai Police officer Riyaz Kazi in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case. The agency said that Kazi helped Sachin Vaze, who has already been arrested by the NIA in the same case.

A team of NIA and forensics experts recreates the crime scene by taking Sachin Vaze to a spot at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus as part of the investigation into the Mansukh Hiran death case, in Mumbai. (PTI File Photo)

Like Vaze, Kazi was also an Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit. Sachin Vaze is also being investigated in connection with the death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was fund dead in a creek on March 5.

Hiran’s Scorpio was allegedly used by Vaze to plant explosives outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia on February 25. He was arrested by the NIA on March 13.

The NIA took over both the cases last month from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) last month, following orders from the Union home ministry.

It has recorded the statements of more than 40 people, including former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh and two deputy commissioners as well as a dozen cops from the crime intelligence unit, in connection with the Antilia case.

Two people have also been arrested in connection with Hiran's death.

Vaze planted the explosives in front of Antilia allegedly to prove his worth to Mumbai Police. Vaze was suspended for three years, from 2004 to 2007. He left the police in 2007. He was reinstated in 2020.

Vaze, who has been suspended, has denied any wrongdoing.