After arresting Sachin Vaze, NIA seizes Innova car in connection with Antilia bomb scare case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized an Innova car in connection with the explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai. The car was seized around 3.30 am on Sunday.

The NIA suspects that the unidentified accused had used the Innova car to flee from the spot after abandoning the explosive-laden Scorpio near Mukesh Ambani's residence, Antilia, on February 25. A senior official said that the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) had already traced the white Innova car, which was allegedly used by the accused to flee after parking the explosive-laden Scorpio car outside Antilia on Carmichael Road. Sources claimed that the Innova car was seized early on Sunday, at around 3.30 am, merely hours after Vaze's arrest by the NIA. The car was seized from the Mumbai Police Commissionerate office.

“The Innova Car brought to NIA office last night is the car seen in CCTV, tailing the Scorpio in which the gelatin was planted near Antilia,” sources from NIA said.

According to highly placed sources, the bumper of the Innova car was changed, as was the number plate. This car had been allegedly seen visiting the Mumbai Police headquarters a few times and was also used by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) for their operations.

Moreover, adding fuel to the fire, the Scorpio car found with gelatin sticks outside Antilia, was also allegedly used by the CIU during news anchor Arnab Goswami's arrest, an operation headed by Vaze back then. The number plate of the Scorpio car seen in Goswami's arrest video, however, was registered to a two-wheeler, raising suspicion.

Officials said that during the investigation, it was also revealed that auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran and API Sachin Vaze had met each other for a meeting in a Mercedes car. Police are now tracing the Mercedes car and are likely to seize it for further investigation.