Police officer at the centre of a political slugfest in Mumbai transferred

BJP's Devendra Fadnavis has accused the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of shielding assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and called for his arrest

Sachin Vaze, the police officer who is under scanner in the Mansukh Hiran case, has been transferred out of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police, Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh announced on Wednesday, rejecting the opposition demand that the officer should be suspended and arrested.

The suspicious car carrying gelatin found outside Mukesh Ambani residence Antilia, has been taken to custody by CBI. (ANI Photo)

“We have decided to move Sachin Vaze. He will be moved from the Crime Branch. An impartial inquiry will be done and whoever is guilty will face action," Deshmukh told the legislative council on Wednesday amid the din.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has fronted the opposition attack on the Maharashtra government, demanding the police officer's arrest in connection with the death of auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran. The businessman is said to be the owner of the vehicle found parked outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence last month with 20 sticks of gelatin and a threatening letter.

The vehicle, a sports utility vehicle, was found near Ambani’s house on February 25. Hiran, a 48-year-old Thane resident, claimed it was stolen from his possession a week earlier.

Fadnavis has extensively cited Vimla's statements to target assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze. On Tuesday, the BJP leader cited the statement by Mansukh Hiran’s wife where she claimed 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 Hiren after four months,” Fadnavis said on Tuesday.

Vaze, who heads the crime intelligence unit (CIU) of the Mumbai police crime branch, has not commented on the charges despite several requests to seek his comments.