MUMBAI: In extensive arguments seeking 30 more days to submit the chargesheet against the arrested accused, including dismissed policeman Sachin Waze, the National Investigation Agency told the special court on Tuesday that one of the accused had paid Rs 45 lakh to eliminate businessman Mansukh Hiran.
On February 25, an explosives-laden Scorpio was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s SoBo home, Antilia. It is alleged that on March 4, the Scorpio owner Hiran was killed. The prosecution submitted that Hiran was the “weak link” and was aware of the conspiracy. It was also submitted had he been alive, the larger plot would’ve failed. It said Hiran’s phone was switched off for long and later switched on in Palghar before it was destroyed.
The prosecution said it wanted to ascertain which of the accused had done this.
“It is submitted that the conspirators, in furtherance of the larger conspiracy, had placed a threat note along with gelatin sticks in the vehicle in order to threaten the Ambani family. Subsequently, a threat letter emerged demanding money by Jaish Ul Hind, which is a very serious act. It needs deeper probe regarding terrorist involvement,” the prosecution submitted.
The prosecution also submitted that a team in Delhi had recorded statements in a connection with the threat letter. The involvement of Jaish Ul Hind and from where the letter was uploaded on messaging service Telegram was being looked into, the prosecution added. The prosecution said there had been extra judicial confessions made by the accused to friends. It said the accused were involved in a larger conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
It also submitted the accused are dangerous and should not be granted bail. The prosecution claimed that 4-5 witnesses were threatened and given police protection, while a few others had refused to come forward fearing for their lives. “Among the accused are police officers and they know how to dodge the investigating agency..,” the prosecution submitted.
It said that so far, statements of over 150 witnesses had been recorded. The prosecution submitted that a witness, a person from a well-known family, had said they were so fearful after the incident that they cancelled a holiday they were to go on the very same day.
The prosecution alleged that some of the accused had gone to Nepal and Dubai after Hiran’s murder.
It said the gelatin sticks, obtained in loose form, belonged to a Nagpur-based solar company. The prosecution said the NIA now needed to speak to around 50 traders to ascertain how Waze procured it. It was alleged Waze had been misleading the NIA on this aspect.
The arguments will continue on Wednesday along with a hearing on Waze’s bail plea, which was earlier rejected by the court.
