Mumbai: Dismissed cop Sachin Waze, an accused in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, has moved a plea before the special NIA court, raising questions about the absence of statements from the alleged victims, industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani.
Legal Challenge to NIA’s Pre-Authorization Actions
In a recent development, the plea filed by Waze contests the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) justification for conducting preliminary inquiries without prior authorization from the central government. Waze argues against the NIA’s claim that its officers were sent to gather basic information regarding a crime at his office within the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Police.
The NIA stated that its rationale for these inquiries was based on the proximity of the Ambani family’s residence, ‘Antilia’, to its branch office located at the MTNL Building. According to the NIA, both properties share a common compound wall, which necessitated a security assessment of the MTNL Building and its surroundings. This assertion forms the crux of Waze’s legal challenge, raising questions about the legitimacy of the NIA’s actions in this case.
Waze Highlights Lack of Ambani Family Statements in Investigation
Waze has indicated that the Ambani family, previously mentioned as potential witnesses in the ongoing investigation, currently does not appear on the official list of individuals whose statements have been recorded. This omission includes the accused, Manish Soni, who has reportedly faced pressure and inducements from an officer involved in the case. Waze emphasized that this information is documented in court records, underscoring the complexities of the investigation.
The plea says the case diary should be secured before trial begins to prevent later insertions, corrections or omissions. The court directed the prosecution to submit replies and adjourned the matter to Friday. Waze also alleged that many witnesses were pressurised by NIA officers to record statements as per a set narrative.
Waze mentioned this in his plea seeking that the case diary and station diary in the case be called for before the first witness steps into the witness box and kept in sealed condition on the court record.