NIA arrests two more in Mansukh Hiran murder case

Santosh Atmaram Shelar and Anand Pandurang Jadhav were produced before the special court in Mumbai and have been remanded to NIA custody till June 21

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more persons in connection with the murder of Thane trader Mansukh Hiran, linked to the Mahindra Scorpio involved in the Antilia explosives scare.

Representational Image.

The arrested accused have been identified as Santosh Atmaram Shelar and Anand Pandurang Jadhav, both residents of Kurar village in Malad east and both are arrested for their role in Hiran murder case, said an NIA officer. He, however, refused to elaborate on the alleged roles of the two.

The duo were produced before the special court in Mumbai and have been remanded to NIA custody till June 21.

On February 25, a Mahindra Scorpio was found abandoned near Antilia, the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, with 20 loose gelatin sticks and a threatening note addressed to Ambani family.

A case was registered with Gamdevi police station in connection with the episode. Later, on March 5, Hiran, the owner of the SUV, was found dead in a creek near Mumbra, with six handkerchiefs stuffed in his mouth and his face covered by a scarf.

A separate case was registered with the Mumbra police in connection with the murder of the auto spare parts dealer.

The NIA, subsequently, took over both the cases and clubbed them for investigation purpose. The federal agency has so far arrested five persons in connection with the two cases, including three Mumbai police officers -- controversial police officer Sachin Vaze, Riyazuddin Kazi, Vaze’s colleague at the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Police crime branch, and inspector Sunil Mane.

It also arrested former police constable Vinayak More, a life convict in fake encounter killing of Lakhan Bhaiya, and cricket bookie Naresh Gor, both of whom allegedly helped Vaze to execute the suspected murder.

Vaze was originally in charge of the investigation of the Antilia explosives scare case, but was removed after reports emerged of his links with Hiran.

NIA took over the explosives case on March 8 and the murder case on March 24. Vaze was named the main accused in both and was arrested by NIA on March 13.

To contain the damage, the Maharashtra government transferred then police commissioner Param Bir Singh. The senior IPS officer wrote to the chief minister, alleging that home minister Anil Deshmukh had instructed Vaze and some other Mumbai police officers to extort ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants, hookah parlours and when no action was forthcoming, he approached the courts.

The Bombay high court eventually asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the matter, prompting Deshmukh’s resignation. The CBI registered an offence against Deshmukh and some others on April 21.