All you need to know about the Ambani bomb scare case

Mansukh Hiren, who owned the explosives-laden car was found dead after he had complained that the car was stolen

Police personnel guard outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilla, a day after explosives were found in an abandoned car in its vicinity. Credit: PTI Photo

A Hiren Mansukh's Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks inside was found near Antilia, Ambani's multi-storey residence in South Mumbai, on February 25 with a threatening note. Police said it had been stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18.

Around midnight of February 25, the SUV was parked off Antilia at Carmichael Road, the residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman, Mukesh Ambani.

The SUV was spotted by police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad was rushed to examine and diffuse the bomb. 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter were recovered.

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Investigators found that the Scorpio had a fake number plate – identical/similar to one of the cars that is a part of the security detail of the Ambani family.

Mumbai Police later said that an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level officer would spearhead the probe. The Crime Branch-CID of Mumbai Police launched parallel investigations into the case, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was made the Investigating Officer. Mansukh Hiren’s statement was recorded at Crime Intelligence Unit at Crawford Market.

On March 4, Mansukh Hiren got a call from “some Tawde of Kandivli Crime Branch” who asked him to meet him at “Ghodbunder Road” in Thane, after which, Hiren goes missing and the family lodged a missing complaint with the Naupada police station.

Also read | Controversies and Mumbai Police's Sachin Vaze

Later, the body of Mansukh Hiren was fished out from Reti Bunder in Thane district's Mumbra.

Thane police registered an accidental death report and the body was sent for post-mortem at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalva.

Maharashtra Legislature discusses the matter and the Opposition BJP demanded NIA probe into the incident.

Later, Maharashtra Home Minister handed over the probe to the state's Anti-Terrorism Squad.

Also Read | NIA takes over case of vehicle laden with explosives found near Mukesh Ambani's home

In a significant development, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said that they will probe a possible murder angle in the death of Mansukh Hiren.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe into the planting of the explosives-laden Scorpio SUV on March 8 which left the tri-party Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation in Maharashtra fuming. CM Thackeray said that there was something “fishy” and hence the federal agency had taken over the investigation.