MUMBAI, Mar 5: The owner of the stolen explosive-loaded vehicle found parked near the residence of the top industrialist Mukesh Ambani last week, has been found dead.
The body Mansukh Hiren , who owned the vehicle found abandoned near Antilia, Ambanis’ residence in Mumbai, was recovered from the Kalwa creek in Mumbra at around 10:25 am. He had been missing since Thursday evening and a missing report was lodged by his family members at Naupada police station in Thane.
This comes after former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that Hiren was in touch with officer Sachin Vaze and there were call records between them from earlier this year. Responding to the allegations, Vaze said he may have met Hiren earlier but does not remember it.
Last week, about 20 gelatine sticks were found in the vehicle parked near Antilia leading to a security scare and a massive mobilisation by the Mumbai Police to trace the culprits. Mumbai Police spokesperson Chaitanya S had said, “A suspicious vehicle was found on Carmichael Road under limits of the Gamdevi Police Station. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad team and other police teams reached the spot immediately, examined the vehicle and found some explosive material gelatin inside.”
During the investigation, Mumbai Police had found that the vehicle was stolen from Vikhroli 10 days prior to the incident. In the Scorpio, which had a fake registration number, the police had found four more fake number plates. All four bore registration numbers of vehicles that are part of the Z-plus security convoy of the Ambani family. The registration number of the Scorpio was the same as the lead vehicle in the security convoy of Nita Ambani.
Apart from the gelatin sticks, police had also found a note written in Hindi in the car addressed to the Ambani family which roughly translated read as: “Nita and Mukesh Ambani and family. This is just a trailer. Next time the gelatin sticks will be connected. Preparations have been made to bomb your entire family. Mend your ways. Good night.”
Mumbai Police had also said a message popped up on a Telegram channel purportedly of a group called ‘Jaish-Ul-Hind’, claiming responsibility for the threat, but the investigating agencies were verifying the message to find out if the claim was a red herring.
(Manas Dasgupta)