TWO DAYS after the arrest of Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) within the Antilia bomb scare case, there are a number of purple faces within the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
On Monday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on the Shiv Sena president’s official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai. Sena sources stated the 2 mentioned Waze’s arrest and the police’s dealing with of the bomb scare episode exterior Mukesh Ambani’s residence. There is rising disquiet, sources stated, over the way during which your entire case has been dealt with by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, sources instructed The Indian Express.
A senior Sena chief instructed The Indian Express that Pawar and Thackeray agreed that the Antilia scare — and the next demise of Thane-based Mansukh Hiran — had proven the Mumbai police in very poor mild and had adversely affected the picture of the federal government as nicely.
One view rising on the assembly, sources stated, was that altering the Commissioner may sign accountability and assist the federal government get well some misplaced floor. Moreover, Thackeray and Pawar are additionally stated to have mentioned the way forward for NCP’s Deshmukh on condition that the conduct of the Mumbai Police had additionally strengthened how he was not in efficient “control over his department or the police force”. Both the leaders are stated to be “on the same page” that the Home portfolio can also want a change of face. However, the Sena chief added that “nothing specific” has been determined but.
The NIA arrested Waze late Saturday evening in reference to its probe into the restoration of a Scorpio automobile containing 20 gelatin sticks exterior Antilia in south Mumbai on February 25. The arrest has given the opposition BJP ammunition to assault the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities, additionally comprising the NCP and Congress.
The Sena continues to defend Waze, who had joined the occasion in 2008 whereas beneath suspension in a separate case however didn’t renew his membership in a while. The NCP has not spoken publicly on the problem whereas the Congress has maintained silence.
Sources stated Pawar’s assembly with Thackeray indicated the discomfort inside the coalition about Waze’s arrest, and his questionable position within the bomb scare case. Within the highest echelons of the Sena, questions are being raised over the best way the Police Commissioner has “mishandled” the case. “Waze was reporting directly to him. How did the police commissioner let this happen?” the senior Sena chief stated.
Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s entry to name information that confirmed Waze had been in contact with Mansukh Hiran, who was utilizing the Scorpio earlier than it was reported stolen and located parked exterior the Ambani residence, has additionally triggered suspicion inside the authorities and the Sena. The position of prime officers in handing over the paperwork to the BJP chief just isn’t being dominated out, the Sena chief stated.
Pawar additionally held a separate assembly of his occasion’s ministers to assessment their work. “There is no question of changing the state’s Home Minister. Don’t create rumours,” Jayant Patil, Irrigation Minister and NCP state president, instructed reporters.
Meanwhile, Sena mouthpiece Saamna remained steadfast in its help of Waze. In an editorial, the newspaper stated Waze had been on the hit-list of the BJP and Centre since he arrested the journalist Arnab Goswami and put him behind bars.
“It is surprising that NIA comes to Mumbai to investigate the case of explosives found near Antilia when the bravery and capabilities of the Maharashtra police are being acknowledged around the world. It is clear that NIA coming in this way is to settle the scores over past incidents. Waze and his team arrested hypocrite Goswami and exposed the TRP scam. In turn, the Centre has arrested Waze. The file of the case is closed here,” acknowledged the editorial.
