29 May,2024 11:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sachin Waze. File Pic
Sachin Waze, a former police officer, has filed a writ petition with the Bombay High Court, seeking release from incarceration in a corruption case in which he became an approver in June 2022. The issue concerns former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who is now on bail.
A division bench of Justices N R Borkar and Somasekhar Sundaresan served a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the case, and requested a response. The hearing is scheduled for June 14, reported PTI.
According to the news agency report, in his handwritten appeal, Waze argued that the pardon granted to him upon becoming approver had not been carried out "in its letter and spirit."
He alleged that he became involved in the crime due to pressure from Deshmukh, the then-Home Minister of Maharashtra. Despite participating in the investigation and thoroughly reporting the circumstances, Waze is still detained at Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai, the PTI report added.
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Per the news agency report, the CBI filed a corruption investigation against Deshmukh in response to charges by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh that the NCP leader commanded police officials to collect Rs 100 crore per month from Mumbai eateries and bars after becoming Home Minister.
Waze is also charged in a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, as well as the Antilia bomb scare and the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran. The NIA apprehended him in the Antilia bomb scare case in March 2021 and he has been in jail since then, the report added.
Sachin Waze sought permission for a laptop in prison
Sachin Waze, a former police officer charged in the Antilia bombing and Mansukh Hiran murder cases has asked the court for permission to use a laptop in prison to prepare his defence and publish a book. In a handwritten letter to a special court, Waze asserted that he had written multiple novels in Marathi and English. He mentioned that his book about the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was translated into English by a well-known English novelist.
During his current incarceration, Waze is working on expanding the edition of his book and producing a treatise on anti-terrorism and related legislation. He stated that he had authored over 35,000 pages while in custody and alluded to over 20,000 judgements. He contended that having access to a computer is critical for managing the considerable electronic data associated with his case.
Waze mentioned that it would be difficult to do his research and create lengthy documents without a computer and necessary software such as MS Office. He stressed that having a laptop is critical for him to access, analyse, analyse, and examine the vast volume of data.
However, the jail authorities denied his request, citing security concerns. They stated that allowing Waze to use a computer could set a precedent for other inmates and lead to anti-national activity or plots. They also stated that any plans to write a book would require prior clearance from the state government in order to avoid difficulty for prison authorities.
