Explosive near Ambani residence: NIA says looking at involvement  of ‘other players’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 17

As the case relating to recovery of gelatin sticks near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai getting “murkier”, the NIA investigators on Wednesday claimed that their probe indicated “deeper conspiracy”, as the arrested Mumbai police officer, Sachin Vaze, appeared to have been “under instruction” by “other players”.

An NIA investigator, on the condition of not being quoted, said Vaze, who was arrested by the agency on Saturday, was working at the instruction of “some people” and that needs to be revealed to crack the case.

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He said during the course of investigation it was found that there were some other people, who were involved in the case and therefore the agency is now considering summoning them soon for questioning.

A letter from the terror outfit Jaish-Ul-Hind, posted on Telegram app, demanding ransom and claiming responsibility for the incident will also be further investigated.

It is to be noted here that Delhi Police’s special cell has already taken into custody Tehseen Akhtar, an associate of the Indian Mujahideen, who has the expertise on fabricating improvised explosive devices.

The officials said some evidences have been collected after questioning Akhtar and seizing the mobile instrument used to post the threat letter on Telegram app, and Vaze will soon be confronted with these and with each other.

They, however, contended that the case had virtually been cracked and soon the entire conspiracy behind the case would be unravelled and made public.

An assistant police inspector, Vaze, who was reinstated in service after 16 years of suspension in a case related to the murder of Khwaja Yunus in 2003 and destruction of evidence, allegedly agreed to be part of the conspiracy behind the incident to earn back the respect that he might have lost due to his prolonged suspension, officials said.

• The NIA on Tuesday recovered a Mercedes Benz and the original number plate of the vehicle used to plant explosive near the residence of Ambani on Carmichael Road in Mumbai.