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Note to arrest: Timeline of Ambani bomb threat caseNIA arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze at midnight on Saturday
Mrityunjay Bose
DHNS
Last Updated IST
The NIA has been investigating the suspicious planting of a Mahindra Scorpio SUV laden with 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter near Antilia, the Mumbai residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani. Credit: PTI Photo
The NIA has been investigating the suspicious planting of a Mahindra Scorpio SUV laden with 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter near Antilia, the Mumbai residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani. Credit: PTI Photo

Controversial police officer Sachin Vaze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday night.

Vaze (49), an Assistant Police Inspector, was grilled for 13 hours at the NIA Mumbai office at Peddar Road and placed under arrest around midnight.

The NIA has been investigating the suspicious planting of a Mahindra Scorpio SUV laden with 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter near Antilia, the Mumbai residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani, the richest businessman of India.

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Here's a timeline of the events:

November 2020

Mansukh Hiren gives the Mahindra Scorpio SUV to Sachin Vaze, as he was the Thane-based automobile spare parts businessman's old client and have known each other

5 February

Sachin Vaze gives the Scorpio back to Mansukh Hiren owing to a technical snag in the steering

17 February

Mansukh Hiren parks his Scorpio after the “steering gets jammed” at the Eastern Express Highway in Vikhroli. He hires a cab and reaches Crawford Market

18 February:

Mansukh Hiren goes to Vikhroli to fetch his car, finds it missing. He lodges a complaint with Vikhroli police station in Mumbai

24-25 February

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

25 February

By evening, the SUV was spotted by Police officials and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad were immediately rushed to the spot. 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening letter were recovered.

Investigators found that the Scorpio had a fake number plate – identical to one of the cars part of the Ambani family's security

The threatening letter reportedly read: "Ye to sirf ek trailer hai. Neeta Bhabhi, Mukesh Bhaiyya, family... ye to sirf ek jhalak hai. Agli baar ye saaman pura hokar tumhare pass aayega, aur pura intezaam ho gaya hai.

26 February

Around midnight, the Gamdevi police station registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 465 (punishment for forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, (punishment for attempting to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosives with intent to endanger life or property)

Mumbai Police says an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level officer would spearhead the probe

The Crime Branch-CID of Mumbai Police launches parallel investigations into the case, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze is made the Investigation Officer

Mansukh Hiren’s statement is recorded at Crime Intelligence Unit at Crawford Market

RIL thank Mumbai Police

2 March

Mansukh Hiren reportedly writes to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh, Thane Police chief Vivek Phansalkar about harrassment by police

4 March

Mansukh Hiren gets a call from “some Tawde of Kandivli Crime Branch” who asks him to meet at Ghodbunder Road in Thane

5 March

Family lodge missing complaint for Mansukh Hiren with the Naupada police station

The body of Mansukh Hirenfished out from Reti Bunder in Mumbra in Thane district

Thane Police register an ADR, body sent for post-mortem at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalva

The matter figures in the Maharashtra Legislature

BJP's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demands NIA probe into the incident

Maharashtra Home Minister hands over probe to state Anti-Terror Squad

Mansukh Hiren’s friend Sandeep Khambe says that he was a good swimmer, raising questions over Hiren's death

Hiren's wife says her husband cannot commit suicide. "He was cooperating...he was called almost daily and made to sit the entire day".

6 March

Post-mortem conducted, viscera sent for chemical analysis

Last rites of Mansukh Hiren performed in Thane

7 March

Maharashtra government decides to remove Sachin Vaze from Crime Branch
ATS registers FIR in Mansukh Hiren's case

8 March

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis claims that a white Innova was also seen with the Scorpio on February 24-25, says as per his knowledge the car is till in Mumbai

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh rules out suspension, arrest of Sachin Vaze

10 March

Defending the officer, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray says: 'Sachin Vaze is not Osama Bin Laden'

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis calls Uddhav Thackeray an "advocate of Sachin Vaze"

11 March

Sachin Vaze grilled by state ATS in Mansukh Hiren death case

NIA team intensifies probe, visits places in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar

12 March

Sachin Vaze grilled by state ATS for second day

Mumbai Police transfer Sachin Vaze from Crime Branch to Special Branch attached to Citizen's Facilitation Centre

Thane Sessions Court rejects anticipatory bail application of Sachin Vaze

13 March

Sachin Vaze puts up cryptic WhatsApp message - "time to say goodbye to the world coming closer"

Sachin Vaze grilled by NIA for 13 hours, arrested mightnight

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(Published 14 March 2021, 10:40 IST)