Mansukh Hiren's death case: Sachin Vaze removed from Crime Branch

The issue rocked both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature with demands of the arrest of Vaze

Controversial police officer Sachin Vaze – who has come under the needle of suspicion behind the mysterious death of Thane-businessman Mansukh Hiran – has been removed from the elite Mumbai Crime Branch-CID.

“An impression is being created that Vaze is Osama Bin Laden,” Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in the closing news conference of the Budget Session of Maharashtra Legislature.

He admitted that Vaze was in Shiv Sena in 2008; however, he does not have any relations with the party. “He did not renew the membership,” he said.
Hiran’s Mahindra Scorpio SUV with 20-odd gelatin sticks and a threatening note was parked near the residence of Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Also read — All you need to know about the Ambani bomb scare case

The opposition BJP demanded immediate suspension and arrest of Vaze, who was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch-CID.
The issue rocked both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature demanding the arrest of Vaze – with Leader of Opposition in Assembly Devendra Fadnavis and his counterpart in Council Pravin Darekar leading the charge.

In Council, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced that Vaze has been removed from the Crime Branch, in Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab made a similar statement.

Also read — Ambani bomb scare case: Hiren's wife suspects Vaze's role in death, seeks probe

Parab requested Fadnavis to submit documents and papers, if he has any, related to the death.

Deshmukh said that Vaze has been removed from the post and the process of investigations is underway. “We will proceed as per law and procedures,” Deshmukh said, adding that an FIR has already been registered into the death of Mansukh Hiran by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ARS), which has been entrusted with the investigations.

"We will take appropriate action against Vaze if he is involved in his death,” he said.

Fadnavis wanted to know why Vaze was being protected. “(Forest Minister) Sanjay Rathod had to resign (as his name came in Pooja Chavan death case) but Vaze is not being suspended...it is because Sanjay Rathod was not aware of secrets of some people in government....who is the government trying to protect,” he said.

Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said: “Maharashtra ATS and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were probing the case of Mansukh Hiran's death and the recovery of explosives-laden vehicle outside the residence of Ambani, respectively. The truth will come out after the probe is completed. It will be unfair to take action until the probe is completed. So Vaze will be transferred from his present posting.”