MUMBAI: During a search of suspended API Sachin Waze’s home, 62 unaccounted bullets were found, the National Investigation Agency told the special court on Thursday. Also, from the official ammunition he was allotted, only five of the 30 bullets were recovered from his residence; the rest were missing, said additional solicitor general Anil Singh, while seeking an extension of his custody.
Waze, in his defence, said he had nothing to do with the crime and had been made a scapegoat. Special judge Prashant R Sitre sent Waze to the NIA custody till April 3.
Singh submitted that since a police officer has to account for each and every bullet he is assigned, the NIA wanted to ascertain for what purpose the remaining 25 bullets were used and what patronage he had that allowed them to not maintain a record.
“Why huge amount of bullets were kept in his house? Is this a deep-rooted conspiracy?” Singh asked.
The NIA also submitted that during investigation, it found that Waze had paid Rs 12 lakh for 100 days for a suite at the Oberoi hotel. Additional solicitor general Anil Singh said that Waze had used a fake Aadhaar card with his picture and pseudonym for booking a suite at the Oberoi hotel.
Waze was arrested on March 13 in connection with the probe into the recovery of explosives from an SUV found parked near businessman Mukesh Ambani’s south Mumbai residence on February 25. On March 14, he was remanded to NIA custody for 12 days.
“We are concerned with the safety of the people,” Singh said. He added that the NIA wanted to investigate the purpose of the act and if it was done to disturb the economy of the country by targeting a businessman or for the purpose of creating terror in the society. Singh said that investigations were at a crucial stage.
“This is one of the most heinous and most shocking cases not only in our city or state but the entire country. Everybody is shocked to find that a police officer is involved in planting explosives at a particular place of a case he himself was the investigating officer of,” he said.
Waze was produced for his remand hearing before the special NIA court at 2.45pm. Earlier, the NIA had added sections under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Waze and also taken over the probe in the Mansukh Hiran murder case. The NIA said that since the provisions of UAPA are attracted, a total custody of 30 days could be sought.
Referring to the murder, Singh submitted, “The murder is connected to this crime and needs to be investigated. Explosive-laden vehicle was in his name. Two persons have been taken into custody from the ATS.” He said that Waze’s further custody was also required to confront him with those accused.