An abandoned explosive laden SUV was found metres away from Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s Mumbai home, Antili, on February 25. From a terror link, to the transfer of the former Mumbai Police Commissioner, and the latest corruption allegations on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, a lot of drama has unfolded in the case since then.  

Here is all we know so far about the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case:

Corruption allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh:

Former Mumbai Commissioner Param Bir Singh on Saturday claimed Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month from Mumbai bars, hotels, restaurants and other establishments.

Deshmukh has denied the charge and said he will file a defamation case against Singh, saying that Singh was levelling false accusations to “save his skin”. 

Cop, bookie arrested in Mansukh Hiren death case:

The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested suspended Mumbai Police constable Vinayak Shinde and Naresh Dhare, a bookie, in connection with the Mansukh Hiren death case.

Hiren was the custodian of the car containing gelatin sticks identified outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house on February 25 and a prime suspect in the case. He was found dead in Retibunder, Mumbra a week later.

NIA recreates crime scene with Sachin Waze:

On Friday, the NIA took suspended Mumbai cop Sachin waze to the spot near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence, where an explosives-laden SUV was found to recreate the crime scene as part of their probe. 

The central agency was also handed over the probe of the Mansukh Hiran death case.

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner transferred:

Former Mumbai Commissioner Param Bir Singh was transferred on March 17 to the state Home Guard for ‘mishandling’ the bomb scare case. He was replaced by senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale, who vowed to improve the tarnished image of the city police. 

Explosive laden car and threat letter found on February 25:

A car carrying gelatin sticks was found near Mukesh Ambani‘s residence in Mumbai and the Mumbai Police Crime Branch launched an investigation into the matter. A handwritten threat letter, written in broken English addressed to Mukesh and Neeta Ambani was also found in the car.

Jaish-ul-Hind claims responsibility of explosives-laden SUV:

A self proclaimed terrorist organisation Jaish-ul-Hind claimed responsibility three days after the SUV was found.

Jaish-ul-Hind denied the involvement in a letter:

After the threat letter claiming to be written by the organisation went viral and was being widely reported by the Indian media, another letter, denying the responsibility of the act surfaced, which said that the outfit had nothing against Mukesh Ambani.

Mansukh Hiren’s angle:

The investigating police officers found that the Scorpio was registered in one Mansukh Hiren’s name, who allegedly was a Thane based businessman. On being investigated, Hiren told the cops that his car was stolen sometime back and that he had lodged a police complaint about it.  

Mansukh Hiren found dead:

Mansukh Hiren was found dead on March 5 at Mumbra Reti Bunder on the banks of a creek that flows towards Mumbai from Thane.  

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Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating Hiren’s death case. According to police, Hiren died by suicide, however, days before his death, Hiren reportedly sent a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, where he wrote that he was being hounded by the police and some mediapersons, who treated him “like an accused”.

Sachin Hindurao Vaze and Mansukh Hiren:

In a letter reportedly written by Mansukh Hiren to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, he had specifically named Mumbai police official Sachin Hindurao Vaze among those hounding him for days. 

Hiren’s wife had claimed that her husband had given the SUV to Vaze in November, which the Mumbai crime branch officer returned in the first week of February. Vaze has denied this.

NIA took over the probe:

On BJP’s demand in the Maharashtra assembly, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe in the matter on March 8

Removal of Sachin Hindurao Vaze:

Vaze, a Mumbai police officer, was removed from his position at the Crime Branch in relation to an investigation into the death of Mansukh Hiren. BJP, the opposition party in the state, alleged that Vaze, who was once a Shiv Sena member, had a hand in Hiren’s death and that the explosive-laden car case was a much bigger conspiracy. 

Tihar Jail angle:

A senior Mumbai Police official on March 11 said that the Telegram channel through which Jaish-ul-Hind had claimed responsibility of the act was in fact created in Tihar jail area of Delhi.

Soon after the angle was discovered, security was beefed up in Tihar area and a checking was conducted on Tihar jail inmates.