ATS says bookie provided multiple SIM cards to suspended API Sachin Waze and former constable which were allegedly used in the entire conspiracy
Accused Vinayak Shinde, a former constable
The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) probing the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran arrested a former constable and convict in a fake encounter case and a cricket bookie on Sunday. According to the ATS, the bookie had provided multiple SIM cards procured from Ahmedabad to suspended API Sachin Waze and the former cop and they were allegedly used in the entire conspiracy.
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Accused Naresh Gor, a cricket bookie
The arrested accused have been identified as Vinayak Shinde, 51, a former constable and convict in the Lakhan Bhayya fake encounter case and Naresh Gor, 31, who allegedly provided the SIM cards registered in the name of an unknown person from Gujarat.
The ATS has also retrieved the details of the last WhatsApp call made to Hiran between 8 pm and 8:30 pm on March 2, the day he was killed. “We checked a lot of dump data in Thane and near Ghodbundar but couldn’t find anything. The technical team which was working to get the WhatsApp call details of Hiran somehow managed to procure the number from which the last call was made,” a senior ATS officer said.
After this the ATS launched a manhunt for the person who made the last call by identifying himself as Tawade. Raids were also conducted in Ahmedabad in connection with the case. During the probe the agency found out that Gor had procured more than a dozen SIM cards from Ahmedabad and few of them were given to Waze and one to Shinde, using which he used to contact Waze. One of the SIM cards was used by Shinde to make the last call to Hiran identifying himself as Tawade. “We are yet to ascertain why Hiran went to meet the person after receiving a call from an unknown number and who is the real Tawade,” the officer said.
Suspended API Sachin Waze
Sources in the ATS confirmed to mid-day that Shinde was allegedly present at the spot where Hiran was killed and a total of 11 people were involved in the murder, which include police officers. Out of the 11, three were present in the car where Mansukh was allegedly killed and his body later dumped in a creek.
According to sources, the entire conspiracy to kill Hiran was planned after the conspirators realised that the Antilia case would go to the ATS or some central agency. Meanwhile, they also forced Mansukh to give a complaint against ATS, NIA, senior officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch and some journalists to frame them in an abetment of suicide case for calling and allegedly harassing him.
In an official press release the ATS said, “Gor is in the business of cricket betting. He had given five SIM cards to main accused Waze and Shinde, who was suspended from the police department and was out on parole since May last year. While on parole, he was in touch with Waze and was helping him in his illegal activities.”
On Sunday, both the arrested accused were produced before the chief judicial magistrate court, Thane, after which they were remanded in ATS custody till March 30. “Both of them have been arrested based on suspicion. The ATS was asking for 14 days’ custody, which we opposed,” said Advocate Ashok Mane, who is representing the accused.
Mansukh Hiran
According to the ATS, Gor was arrested from Mumbai and Shinde was picked up by Police Inspector Daya Nayak and his team from Kalwa in Thane. The agency has also seized three mobile phones and eight unnamed SIM cards from the duo.
The case has been directly monitored by ATS chief Jai Jeet Singh and DIG Shivdeep Lande, who have played an important role in the investigation. Through a Facebook post, Lande said, “The highly sensitive murder case of Mansukh Hiran has been resolved. I heartily salute all my ATS colleagues who have been working day and night since the past few days to ensure justice to the family. This was one of the most complicated cases of my police career.”
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