State cops enter fray: ATS begins hunt for missing link

The Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad ATS has launched a massive manhunt for a police officer identified by Mansukh Hiranrsquos wife Vimla as lsquoTawadersquo According to Vimlarsquos statement Hiran went to Ghodbunder Road to meet Tawade on the night of March 4 ATS has questioned multiple people to identify this person but to no avail Twenty teams are on the job using technical and human intelligence to get cluesMansukh HiranVimla in her statement had said that Hiran went to meet an officer from Kandivli Crime Branch whose name was Tawade He had informed her of this while leaving on March 4 and on March 5 his body was found under mysterious circumstances Since Vimla mentioned Kandivli Crime Branch the ATS has taken the details of every staff working at Unit XI located in Kandivli police stationrsquos premises The unitrsquos incharge Sunil Mane was contacted for the details of the staffersTawade has become a mystery for the ATS According to sources there is no officer or staff with the surname or intial name Tawade working at Unit XI Multiple ATS teams have so far questioned and examined more than 100 people in connection with the case but have had no further leads except for suspended police officer Sachin Waze who has been named as an accused in Hiranrsquos murder case He has been accused under Sections 120b Criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code ldquoWe have activated all resources across Maharashtra and are taking the help of local police stations to examine every person even for the most minor linksrdquo an ATS officer saidATS officers at the spot at Retibunder Mumbra where Mansukh Hiranrsquos body was found File picThe agency has also raided multiple locations across the state based on the facts that have surfaced during the probe It is also sharing details with its counterparts in states including Gujarat Haryana Hyderabad Rajasthan and New Delhi A senior IPS officer is also monitoring the developing details in terms of technical and human intelligenceThe Maharashtra ATS has also sought a detailed report from the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory FSL on the handkerchief that was stuffed in Hiranrsquos mouth when his body was found The ATS has asked the FSL to find out if it has any traces of chloroform or any other chemical that might have been used to sedate himMeanwhile the NIA investigating the Ambani bomb scare case visited the Commissioner of Policersquos office and met senior officers to seek further details in the investigation carried out by them However some NIA officers said that it was just a courtesy meeting following the appointment of the new police chief Hemant NagraleSix members of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory Pune visited Mumbai on Friday to assist NIA in the probe At night a team from NIA and the forensic experts were at the spot where the Scorpio was planted on February 25 to recreate the sequence of events