For NIA, Waze’s Hiran homicide motive: ‘panic’ over shedding probe

WITH rising proof linking arrested Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze to the alleged homicide of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) — probing the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case — is veering in direction of the conclusion that Hiran might have been killed after Waze “panicked” that the probe was being taken away from him and may very well be given to the Central company, sources mentioned.
Though the NIA is but to get the report of the ultimate forensic evaluation completed on Hiran’s physique, the company believes that the automobile decor store proprietor was smothered, and never strangled, sources mentioned.
Hiran was allegedly in possession of the Mahindra Scorpio which was discovered exterior Ambani’s home in Mumbai on February 25 with gelatin sticks and a risk be aware. According to the NIA, Waze had taken the automobile from Hiran earlier than allegedly planting the explosives and parking the automobile exterior the industrialist’s home.
“Hiran’s viscera report is yet to come. However, based on prima facie evidence, it appears Hiran was smothered. His post-mortem report has not specified the cause of death. There are no ligature marks so strangulation does not appear to be the cause of death. When his body was fished out of Kalwa creek in Thane (on March 5), multiple handkerchiefs were taken out of his mouth,” an officer aware about investigation particulars mentioned.
Investigations have to this point pointed to how, days earlier than the bomb scare incident, Hiran had allegedly handed over the keys of the automobile to Waze and later gone on to file a car theft case with the police.
The automobile exterior the Ambanis’ residence. (Express Photo)
While Waze has continued to disclaim his involvement in Hiran’s homicide, sources mentioned, there may be mounting proof in opposition to him.
“There is enough evidence in the form of call data records, location of the people involved and other electronic footprints that link Waze and his associates to the crime. We are also trying to retrieve data from the electronic devices recovered from the bed of Mithi River,” the officer mentioned.

Sources mentioned the company has discovered that after the bomb scare incident, Waze was pressuring Hiran to come clean with the crime. “The Opposition had begun mounting pressure on the government to transfer the case to NIA. There were also murmurs about the case going to Mumbai ATS. With Hiran not agreeing to own up, Waze panicked. We are now trying to establish whether Waze was himself present at the scene of the crime when Hiran was murdered,” the officer mentioned.
Meanwhile, the NIA is getting a forensic examination completed of the Mitsubishi Outlander it recovered from Navi Mumbai on Tuesday. The automobile is registered in Waze’s title.
The NIA has already seized 5 automobiles in reference to the case and arrested three individuals, together with Waze.