Assistant Police Inspector Riyaz Kazi who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 11 April 2021 in connection to the ‘Antilia Bomb scare’ and the ‘Mansukh Hiren death case’ was suspended from the Mumbai police on 12th April. He was earlier removed out of the Crime Branch last month.
The NIA believes that API Kazi was an accomplice of API Sachin Waze, the alleged mastermind of both cases. The agency speculates that he had assisted Waze to get access to false license plates used in the vehicle found outside Antilia.
Reports Indicate that Additional Commissioner of Police (Arms Unit) Virendra Mishra had issued API Kazi’s suspension order. It has also been learnt that the suspension letter prohibits the policeman from seeking any private work, non-compliance of which will invite stringent legal action. Kazi has also been ordered to appear before a Local Arms Unit on Friday each week.
The NIA had interrogated Kazi in connection to both cases. He was spotted in Vikhroli entering a license plate store, with a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showing him having a conversation with the store owner. He left the place with DVD’s and a computer. It has also been reported that he was seen collecting CCTV footage form Waze’s residential complex in neighboring Thane.
Mumbai Police personnel Waze, Kazi, Constable Vinayak Shinde along with Cricket bookie Naresh Gor are currently under judicial custody.
On February 25, 2021, a gelatin stick laden Scorpio was found parked outside billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia residence in South Mumbai. Mansukh Hiren a 48-year-old Thane based businessman and owner of the vehicle was found dead in a Mumbra creek on 5 March 2021. He had filed a stolen vehicle report prior to his death.