Waze: Attempt of Sachin Waze was to create terror in mind of Ambani family: Special NIA Judge

MUMBAI: A special NIA trial court has denied bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze. The court held that although the gelatin sticks planted in a vehicle parked near Antilia in south Mumbai in February 2021 were not connected to a detonator, they were sufficient to cause terror in the minds of people.
Special Judge A M Patil stated, “Here in this case, the attempt of the applicant (Waze) was to create terror in the mind of a particular section of people, and that is the Ambani Family.” Therefore, Waze’s plea that terror could not be caused without a detonator is devoid of merit.
The court, in its detailed reasoned order of September 16 (made available now), referred to witnesses and documents on record. It concluded that Waze and other co-accused attempted to spread terror in the minds of the Ambani family. When businessman Mansukh Hiran, whose vehicle was allegedly used, denied involvement in the February 25, 2021 act, they “eliminated Mansukh by conspiring with each other. It was a well-planned murder.” The court noted that every precaution was taken to evade the clutches of the law.
The court also expressed concerns about the possibility of Waze tampering with witnesses if released.
Waze’s counsel, Sajal Yadav, argued that the former cop was falsely implicated due to inter-departmental rivalry, questioned the prosecution’s sanction, and argued a lack of evidence to show that Waze had planted any explosives in the vehicle. The court stated that the sanction could not be deemed improper at this stage and held that Waze had not provided details of the alleged internal rivalry.
Yadav argued that no terror case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) could be made against Waze. He also mentioned that there was no extortion call made to the industrialist, and neither his nor his family’s statements were recorded.
The motive alleged against the then assistant police inspector was only to “regain his clout’’ said Yadav. He also argued that in the recent past, when the Reliance hospital and BKC school received a bomb threat, anti-terror law provisions were not invoked.
Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves for National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposing Waze’s plea said the charge sheet makes his involvement in the crimes, to commit a ‘terrorist act’ and the ‘cold blooded murder’ of Hiran, ‘crystal clear’.
To regain clout was “not the only motive behind the crime’’ said the court. It added that witness statements show that Waze “tried to spread terror… to extort money’’ and placed the explosive laden Scorpio near Antilia.
The court noted that Waze was reinstated in the Mumbai police force in June 2020 and had an office in the police commissioner’s office compound, according to a key witness. Hiran’s son stated that the Scorpio, with explosives, was sold to Waze in November 2020 and returned in the first week of February, claiming he did not like it. The court said Waze’s bail plea makes no mention of him having the vehicle for over two months.
On February 18, 2021, Hiran had lodged a theft report with the Vikhroli police regarding his Scorpio, which he had parked by the highway the previous day. Waze argued that the theft case was not closed, but the NIA stated that Hiran had handed over the Scorpio keys on February 17th.

The court, citing witness statements, said that in mid-February 2021, Waze, as part of a conspiracy, “extorted huge cash amounts from bar owners.” The alleged murder of Hiran occurred on March 4, 2021.
There are a total of 10 accused in the case. The special court deemed the matter serious and stated, “Many of the accused are still striving for bail. If all the accused and their advocates cooperate, then the delay in the trial can be avoided.” However, the order emphasized that the mere grounds of delay were insufficient to grant bail to Waze.
The order also mentioned a witness who stated that on March 5, 2021, police inspector Sunil Mane and co-accused met Waze. Both of them then met the then Mumbai police chief in his office and returned at 3 pm for lunch. The court concluded, “In the statement of Vimala Hiran, it establishes the relevant motive and intention of the applicant (Waze) and his co-accused in furtherance of a larger conspiracy and commission of the crime of the murder of Mansukh Hiran, since Mansukh Hiran was not ready to take the blame for the crime on 25.02.2021. The applicant and co-accused hatched a conspiracy and eliminated Mansukh Hiran.”
The detailed 43-page order stated, “Prima facie, statements of protected witnesses corroborated the presence of Sunil Mane in the office of the applicant along with Mansukh Hiran and the hatching of a conspiracy by the applicant, Sunil Mane, Pradeep Sharma, and others at the CP office compound, Andheri (East), and at other places in Mumbai. There is sufficient evidence on record that reveals the applicant had called Mansukh Hiran to his office from 27.02.2021 until 03.03.2021 to persuade Mansukh Hiran to take blame for the incident dated 25.02.2021.” The order also stated, “It is also established that the SIM card used by Sunil Mane in the murder of Mansukh Hiran was given to him by the applicant and was given to the applicant by Vinayak Shinde through Naresh Gaur and further to Sunil Mane at the instance of Pradeep Sharma. There is ample evidence to show that the applicant and Mansukh Hiran had planned the alleged theft of the said green-colored Scorpio vehicle at the instance of the applicant on or prior to 17.02.2021, and the applicant had full control and possession over the said Scorpio prior to 05.02.2021. “It is also established that the applicant, along with his associates, took physical possession of the said Scorpio and kept the vehicle opposite Shikhar Kunj Building after planting explosives near Antilia along with a threat note.