SUV bomb threat case: Second serving officer of Mumbai police arrested

API Riyazuddin Qazi (in maroon) leaving court on Sunday

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday, arrested a second serving officer of Mumbai police, Assistant Police Inspector (API) Riyazuddin Qazi, in connection with the Ambani bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder cases. Qazi was closely associated with the prime accused, suspended API Sachin Waze, and was allegedly a part of all important investigations carried out by him, including the TRP scam.

Suspended API Sachin Waze

According to the NIA, Qazi was questioned multiple times, including a confrontation with Waze, who is in judicial custody. Initially, the agency thought of making him a witness but further probe revealed that he was well aware and even part of the conspiracy. "He was not only part of the entire conspiracy but there is strong evidence to suggest how he destroyed evidence on Waze's instructions," an NIA officer said.

According to the NIA, Qazi allegedly took the Digital Video Recorders (DVR) from important locations where the making of the fake number plates and the Scorpio were captured.

According to sources, the Maharashtra ATS, during its probe, had found a crucial link and given the same to NIA when the case was transferred. Sources in both agencies confirmed that on March 6, Waze and Qazi were seen meeting a person in an Audi car in Nagpada. "The person was known to Waze. The duo took petrol in a bottle and a hammer from the person. The hammer was later used to destroy evidence. The evidence, including a laptop, DVR, CPU and hard disk, was recovered from Mithi river and was completely damaged. We believe that the hammer was used to damage the evidence and thrown into the river," an NIA officer said.

API Riyazuddin Qazi (in white shirt) outside the NIA office

The petrol bottle was found inside the Mercedes car seized by the NIA. The petrol and diesel were used to burn other crucial evidence which includes the kurta Waze wore near Antilia as seen in CCTV camera footage.

NIA has recorded the statement of the person from Nagpada. This statement led to Qazi's arrest.

Qazi's remand hearing

Qazi was produced before the Special NIA holiday court on Sunday. Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves said that Qazi is a co-conspirator in the case. "He knows the structure and design of the conspiracy," Gonsalves told the court.

The NIA had demanded a 10-day custody but was given a five-day remand.

"The duo started to destroy the evidence after the case was handed over to NIA on March 8. Qazi was well aware of the entire matter because the Scorpio, which was used to plant the gelatin sticks outside Antilia and regarding which a theft case had been registered at Vikhroli police station, was parked at Waze's apartment in Thane but he did not raise an alarm," Gonsalves told the court.

The Mercedes car in which NIA found the petrol bottle which Waze and Qazi allegedly procured from someone in Nagpada. File pic

Gonsalves added that Qazi was present at all locations where the pieces of evidence were destroyed. He is also accused of disposing of the CPU and DVR recovered from the river.

Gonsalves said that Waze has spilt the beans during his interrogation, but Qazi's custody is needed for further clarity.

The NIA has collected data from multiple DVRs of CCTV cameras and the collective quantity of the footage is a whopping 112 TB.

Countering the allegations, Qazi's defence counsel argued that his client has been made a ‘scapegoat' in the case.

"My client has maintained a diary entry of everything he has done while working with Waze," defence counsel Hasnain Kazi told the court. The defence lawyer further argued that his client has been cooperating with NIA for 20 days. "He has also helped the NIA officers collect evidence related to the case," Kazi said. "He also made a diary entry of the evidence - DVR and a diary - which he collected from Sadguru hotel on March 3. Had he been part of the crime, why would he make a station diary entry which can be used against him?" the defence lawyer argued.

The DVR from Waze's place

"A diary was made of all the property that has been seized during the Antilia probe, but some evidence was not shown in the seized property which includes the DVR from Waze's residence," an officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch told mid-day.

API Qazi allegedly forcefully took the DVR from Waze's Thane residence, Saket apartment, two days after the Scorpio was found outside Antilia. He also collected pieces of evidence like CPU and CCTV footage from a shop in Mulund and made its station diary entry.

Kazi added, "All the official work was assigned by Waze and Qazi made a diary entry of everything. Why would he maintain a record knowing it could be used against him?"

The arguments of both sides lasted for around 45 minutes. Qazi has been remanded to NIA custody till April 16.

Both Qazi and Waze worked in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Following Waze's arrest, he was transferred to the Local Arms unit of Mumbai police. A senior Mumbai police officer confirmed that his suspension order will be issued on Monday.

Who is Qazi?

Qazi is a police officer of the 102nd batch and was recruited in 2010 after clearing MPSC exams. He was first posted at Versova police station on probation and then transferred to the Anti-Chain Snatching squad of Mumbai Police. From there, he went to the CIU.

According to sources, another API-rank officer who has worked with Waze and two constables are also under NIA's scanner and may be arrested in the coming days.

Five
Days' custody granted to NIA by the court