NIA New Delhi/IBNS: Invoking Section 8 of the NIA Act, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued an order directing the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over Mansukh Hiran's death case, which was earlier being probed by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).
The NIA has already been investigating the main case relating to the recovery of an SUV with explosives near Ambani's house, Antilia.
The vehicle was found a week later loaded with explosives and a threat letter to the Ambanis.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agaency (NIA) have now found the CCTV footage which shows Vaze with Hiren on the day when the Scorpio went missing. They met near the General Post Office for about ten minutes inside a black Mercedes-Benz, said an NDTV report. This vehicle was one of the many traced to the cop by the investigating officials, the report added.
Hiren had told the police that he had parked the SUV on the highway in the Vikhroli area of central Mumbai and took a taxi to go to Crawford Market in south Mumbai, said the report. Next day he realised that the SUV was stolen.
Vaze had borrowed this Scorpio from Hiren for four months and had returned it on February 5.
Reports said Hiren Mansukh's statement was taken by Vaze when he was heading the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) but he did not mention the February 17 meeting with the auto parts trader.
The vehicle was found loaded with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat letter to the Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani's family on Fenruary 25.
Hiren went missing on the night of March 4 and his body was found in a creek in Thane, the next day.
A Hindustan Times report said the trader may have been alive when he was thrown in the water.
The report said quoting a Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) official that the initial reports could not confirm it. In order to ascertain it, Hiran’s diatom bone samples were now being sent to a forensic science laboratory in Haryana.
The detection of diatoms known as the diatom test in the organs can help determine if the death happened underwater, said the report.
The official said perhaps Hiran was made unconscious with cholorform or by some other means and thrown into the creek as his face was covered with a mask and handkerchief.
His viscera report is also awaited, the HT report added.
Meanwhile, the ATS questioned a senior police officer of Mumbai crime branch located in Kandivali area on Tuesday, said an India Today report.
"We have called Sunil Mane for questioning. Very early to say anything," a senior police officer said, added the report.
One more senior police inspector from Thane crime branch is also likely to be questioned, the report informed.
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