Featured Image: Riyaz Kazi is suspected of destroying evidence relevant to the Ambani bomb scare
investigation. Credits: Mustafa Shaikh.

The NIA on Sunday arrested police officer Riyaz Kazi in connection with the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence. Kazi is an associate of suspended Mumbai cop Sachin Waze.

“Assistant police inspector (API) Kazi was called for questioning again by the NIA on Sunday and later placed under arrest,” a police official said.

Kazi was previously questioned several times by the NIA in connection with the case of the explosives-laden SUV found on February 25 near Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s multi-storied residence ”Antilia” in south Mumbai, and the subsequent death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran. Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5.

Riyaz Kazi had been shunted out of the Mumbai Crime Branch last month, the official said.

Kazi was produced before a holiday court in Mumbai after his arrest. The court remanded him in the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) custody till April 16 for further investigations into the case.

The NIA told the court that he was arrested for destroying evidence and that he is involved in the conspiracy of the case along with Waze, the main accused in the case.

While seeking his remand for 10 days, the prosecution said that when the NIA started conducting a parallel probe soon after the explosives-laden vehicle was found, the accused allegedly killed Hiran fearing that he will disclose their plan. The prosecution also submitted that Kazi was well aware of the crime.

After the case was transferred to the central agency, the accused started destroying evidences like CPU and DVR and others, the NIA told the court.

Kazi’s custody is required to confront him with every recovered article, documents and witnesses. Waze has given half the facts and Kazi’s interrogation is required to find out under whose instructions he destroyed the material evidence, the NIA submitted.

The NIA also said that Riyaz Kazi also needs to be interrogated about the source of the gelatin sticks that were found in the SUV.

Opposing the remand plea, Kazi’s lawyer, Hasnain Kazi, argued that his client was not involved in the destruction of evidence.

The accused has been going to the NIA office for interrogation since the last twenty days and has been co-operating with the investigation; hence his custody was not required, the lawyer said.

After hearing both the sides, the judge remanded the accused to NIA’s custody till April 16.

According to the police, CCTV footage shows Kazi entering a number plates shop in suburban Vikhroli and having a conversation with the outlet’s owner. He was also seen taking away a digital video recorder and a computer from the shop. Kazi was also seen collecting CCTV footage from Waze’s housing complex in Thane, the official said.

The probe agency suspects that Kazi assisted Waze in obtaining fake number plates used for the SUV that was used to plant explosives near Ambani’s residence in south Mumbai.

The NIA arrested Waze on March 13 in connection with its probe into the case. The probe agency had also arrested former policeman Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gor.

All the three are currently in judicial custody.

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