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Mansukh Hiran murder case: NIA seizes Audi, suspects trader was smothered in it
NIA also raided a Girgaum club, whose owner had introduced Vaze and Shinde to Gor. An NIA team conducted a search for three hours and recorded the statements of the owner, manager and staff
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized one more car in connection with the murder of 48-year-old Thane auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran. The agency suspects that the Audi, seized from Vasai, could be the vehicle in which the trader was smothered. NIA sources said the Audi was taken to south Mumbai, where forensic experts thoroughly examined it on Thursday for possible biological and other traces.
Hiran was linked to the explosives-laden Scorpio found abandoned near industrialist Mukesh Ambani Antilia home in south Mumbai. He had gone missing late in the evening on March 4 and his body was recovered from a creek at Reti Bunder near Mumbra the next day.
Six handkerchiefs were found stuffed in his mouth, and his face was covered by a scarf.
The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS), which was earlier probing the case, had arrested former constable Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gor in connection with the murder. ATS suspected that suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze – who has been arrested by NIA for his alleged role in the Antilia security scare case – is also the prime accused in Hiran’s murder case, while Shinde allegedly helped him execute the murder, and Gor arranged for some SIM cards used in the commission of the crime from Gujarat.
Both ATS and NIA officials believe that Mansukh was smothered in a vehicle at Gaimukh, along Ghodbunder Road.
The initial probe by ATS had revealed that Hiran had received a call around 8.29pm on March 4, and the caller spoke to him for around 11 minutes and asked him to meet near Majiwada junction on Ghodbunder Road.
According to an ATS officer, the trader was made to sit in a four-wheeler at Majiwada junction, taken 10km away to Gaimukh breach front, and smothered in the vehicle at the spot. Later the body was dumped in the creek at Reti Bunder, suspect NIA officials.
NIA is also trying to trace the Maruti Eeco, allegedly stolen from Aurangabad in November. The car’s original number plates were found during a search in Mithi river on March 28.
Meanwhile, NIA also raided a Girgaum club, whose owner had introduced Vaze and Shinde to Gor. An NIA team conducted a search for three hours and recorded the statements of the owner, manager and staff.
NIA also questioned a woman on Thursday in the connection with the Antilia case.
