NIA slaps terror charges against Vaze

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS): In a major development in the investigation into the SUV case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has slapped charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against arrested-suspended Mumbai Police ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Vaze, officials said on Wednesday.

An NIA official related to probe told IANS: “The agency has added the sections of the UA(P)A against Vaze, who was arrested on March 13 in connection with Scorpio SUV with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note, parked near Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.”

Billed as a prime accused, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Vaze was arrested for his role in the case and sent to NIA custody till March 25.

The NIA had taken over the SUV case probe on March 3 after notification from the Central government.

The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), which is probing the businessman Mansukh Hiran’s death aspect of the case, was planning to seek Vaze’s custody on Thursday.

At a hearing this afternoon, a Thane court has directed the Maharashtra ATS to hand over to NIA all the case papers pertaining to the Hiran death case, as per the Centre’s directives.