‘Being made a scapegoat’: Suspended Mumbai cop, Sachin Waze, tells NIA court

Suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze was produced before Special NIA (National Investigation Agency) Court on Thursday, reported ANI. Before the court, the suspended cop said that he was being made a scapegoat.

Also read: ‘Deshmukh asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore’: Sacked cop Singh; HM denies allegations

After his hearing on Thursday, Waze has been sent to further NIA custody till April 3.

Waze (49) is in NIA’s custody for his alleged role in planting an explosives-laden SUV outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani‘s home in Mumbai.

“I was investigating officer of the case for one and a half days and did whatever I could in that capacity. But there was sudden change in some plan somewhere. I went to the NIA office on my own and was arrested,” he told the court.

News agency ANI had reported, quoting sources, that the cop had told the NIA that he had planted the car at Antila, which is Ambani’s residence, to become a super cop by solving the case. However, he told the special court on Thursday that he didn’t confess anything, reported PTI.

The central agency had invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him in the case, reported PTI.

The NIA had moved an application on Wednesday informing the special court about adding the UAPA charges in the case. The court had allowed it, PTI reported quoting a source.

Other than the Antila bomb scare case, Waze is also facing scrutiny over the death of businessman Mansukh Hiren, who was in possession of the explosives-laden car at Ambani’s residence.

Also read: Ambani security scare: Two cars allegedly used by Waze seized

NIA is investigating Hiren’s death as well.

Waze is a 1990-batch officer of Maharashtra cadre. He was suspended in 2004 in the custodial death of 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus. He was reinstated last year.