The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday started an investigation into the case related to explosives recovered in an abandoned SUV car found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house Antilla in Mumbai. The agency will also probe into the mysterious death of the owner of the car, Mansukh Hiren. The case was on Monday transferred from Maharashtra’s Anti Terrorism Squad to the NIA.
The agency took over the probe following orders received from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The case was registered at Gamdevi police station in Mumbai on February 25 after a Mahindra Scorpio was found parked on Carmichael Road near 'Antilia', Ambani's residence. The A-Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team reached the spot immediately.
"NIA has received orders from MHA for investigation of the case being probed by Mumbai Police. This case relates to the recovery of explosives from a Mahindra Scorpio parked at Carmichael Road, Mumbai," the NIA said.
This development comes after Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday said the state police were “capable” of solving the case.
The dead body of Hiren (46), an automobile accessories dealer, was discovered in a creek in Thane on March 5, hours after his family had complained about him missing.
The anti-terror agency said it is in the process of re-registering the case.
The Scorpio car was found near Ambani’s residence on February 25 evening, with 20 gelatin sticks inside, along with a threat letter that warned of further severe consequences. The vehicle was seized by police then. The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police was conducting the probe. Police had said the vehicle was stolen from Airoli-Mulund Bridge on February 18 and had a fake number plate. The registration number on the vehicle's number plate was the same as that of an SUV in Ambani's security detail.
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Reportedly, Hiran had written a letter on March 2 to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and police commissioners of Thane and Mumbai, alleging that he was being harassed by the police and media since the vehicle was found outside Ambani's house. Despite being a victim, he was being treated as an accused, Hiren said in his letter.
Meanwhile, the officials said that Hiren’s autopsy report showed no visible external injuries were found on his body. The viscera of Hiren was already sent for forensic analysis, they said.
Earlier on Monday, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had registered a murder case and launched investigations into the mystery of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiren's body being recovered from the Thane Creek wetlands on March 5. This was initiated after Hiren’s wife suspected that her husband may have been murdered.