Two days after he was arrested by the NIA over the recovery of explosives from a car near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence, Mumbai Police Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was on Monday placed under suspension.
Vaze was also accused of involvement in the death of Mansukh Hiran, who had been in possession of the car in which the explosives were found. The Shiv Sena-led government had transferred Vaze from the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) last week, amid the allegations against him. However, the state BJP demanded that he be suspended. Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that Vaze had been in touch with Hiran.
Vaze, who joined the police in 1990, is no stranger to controversy. Vaze had earned a reputation for being an encounter specialist. However, he was one of four policemen named in the custodial death of Khwaja Yunus, a terror suspect in 2003. Vaze was suspended from service in 2004. He resigned from the Mumbai Police in 2007 after his appeals for reinstatement made no progress.
Vaze joined the Shiv Sena in 2008. Vaze was reinstated into service in June 2020 by the Uddhav Thackeray government, which cited the need for manpower amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
also read
- Is 'NM' for Narendra Modi? Congress raises suspicion over Navi Mumbai airport name
- Why Pradnya Satav of Hingoli joining the BJP is a major blow for Congress in Maharashtra
- Eknath Shinde's brother linked to Satara drug factory? Congress alleges massive cover-up
- Inside the plans for Mumbai's new central park: a city forest, international sports complex and more
Vaze has handled numerous key cases since his reinstatement, including the probe of the bomb scare outside Ambani's residence and the TRP scam, which involved journalist Arnab Goswami. Goswami had alleged Vaze had threatened him when he was arrested in an abetment of suicide case in November 2020.
Following his suspension, former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya demanded an investigation into why and how Vaze was reappointed to service. Somaiya tweeted on Monday, "#SachinVaze suspended once again. But why, how, on what basis & WHO reappointed him on 6/6/2020. It should be investigated. Persons responsible must be Punished|.”