I suspect API Sachin Vaze killed my husband: Mansukh Hiran's wife

Sachin Vaze

Vimla Hiran, wife of Mansukh Hiran, has alleged in her statement to the Maharashtra ATS, that she suspects API Sachin Vaze killed her husband. She also said that it was on Vaze's instructions that a complaint of harassment against media persons and the police was made to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Commissioner of Police (CP) Param Bir Singh and to the Thane police commissioner.

Mansukh Hiran

According to the First Information Report (FIR) (a copy of which is with mid-day) registered by the Maharashtra ATS, the Mahindra Scorpio found with explosives and a threat letter to the Ambani family near Antilia, was with Vaze till February this year. Vaze heads the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Mansukh was an auto parts dealer. Vimla states in her FIR, "One of our customers, Dr Peter Newton, owns the Mahindra Scorpio and the car was in our custody with his consent for three years. In November last year, my husband gave the car to police officer Sachin Vaze for his use as he was known to him."

Vimla Hiran at Thane on Tuesday. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Her statement further reads, "On February 5, the Scorpio was brought to my husband's shop by Vaze's driver and my husband said that the steering of the car was hard. On February 17, around 6.30 pm, my husband went to Mumbai for work. After crossing Mulund toll naka, he parked the vehicle on the highway as the steering was jammed and booked a radio cab to go to Mumbai. On February 18, he and a staffer went to retrieve the car but could not find it. He told me about it on February 18 and filed a theft complaint with the Vikhroli police."

Mansukh Hiran's staff and family near his residence. File pic

"On February 25, we saw the news about the abandoned Scorpio near Mukesh Ambani's residence. But there was no clarity if it was our car as the number plates were different. The same night, an ATS police inspector called my husband and told him to come down to the compound of our building. My husband and son went and the officer showed them a photo of the Scorpio, which he identified as the same one that had been stolen. My husband showed the officer a copy of his FIR. Later that night, an officer from Ghatkopar police and ATS officer Shivaji Chavhan came and took my husband to the ATS Vikhroli unit to question him in the theft case. They returned around 6.30 am with my husband to check CCTV footage," Vimla's statement stated.

Mansukh Hiran. File pic

Visits to the Crime Branch
Vimla said that Mansukh went to the Crime Branch from February 27 to 28 with Vaze. "On February 28, he recorded his statement. He kept a copy at home, which has Vaze's name and signature." According to the statement, Mansukh was at Byculla police on March 1 for investigation, but he remained at home all day.

"On February 2 evening, after returning from the shop, my husband told me that he went to Mumbai with Vaze and on his instruction, gave a complaint to the Chief Minister, Mumbai and Thane police commissioners about some police and media persons harassing him by making continuous calls. I am submitting the same complaint copy. I asked my husband if he was being harassed or was beaten by cops, but he said nobody harassed or beat him. He told me that despite recording a statement, he was getting continuous calls from different officers asking him why he gave the complaint. But, whenever he was at home, he did not appear under pressure or tense. He would always laugh and joke," she further added.

She further alleged that Vaze told Mansukh to get arrested and that he would bail him out in two days. "On March 3 night, I told my husband that there's no need to get arrested and that we will take legal advice. He appeared tense." According to Vimla, Mansukh consulted a lawyer on March 4, who advised that if he is not an accused, there's no need for anticipatory bail.

Hiran's last day at home
"On March 4, he came home early and said he has to go out. He said that police officer Tawade from Kandivli had called him and he was going to meet him. I asked why he was going so late, to which he said that he (Tawade) is our own police officer, so he was just going to meet him at Ghodbunder Road to take his advice. He gave me the key of his bike and said he would go by auto and left," she added in her statement. "After my son returned from the shop, we waited for my husband till 11 pm. We kept calling on both his numbers and on WhatsApp, but his number was switched off. He never switched off his phone," the statement added.

"My son informed my brother-in-law Vinod Hiran around 1.10 am and asked him to check with police officers he might know. My husband had given Vinod Vaze's number. Vinod spoke to Vaze, who told him that my husband doesn't normally meet any police officer without informing him. And that he doesn't know how Mansukh went to meet someone without informing him," Vimla added in the statement. After waiting the whole night, the family registered a missing person complaint at Naupada police station.

"Around 3.30 pm on March 5, my son called and told me that my husband's dead body was found by Mumbra police. I was later told that his body was found in a creek near Mumbra. His face was covered with a scarf and inside that, there were 4-5 folded handkerchiefs. He was a swimmer he could not possibly die by jumping into the creek. When he left home, he was wearing a black mask. His mobile phones, gold chain, gold rings, watch, wallet with 4-5 credit/debit cards and cash were also missing. Looking at the circumstances, I believe that my husband was killed and I suspect that Sachin Vaze has killed him which needs to be investigated thoroughly," Vimla said.