Timeline of events since spotting of explosive-laden Scorpio outside Antilia

Assistant Police Inspector API Sachin Waze of Mumbai police was arrested late on Saturday night in the case of the explosivesladen Scorpio outside the Ambani residence a case he was investigating last month The arrest was made by the National Investigation Agency NIA which is probing the case now Sources said that a Scorpio similar to the one in the case was seen in video footages from the time TV anchor Arnab Goswami was arrested in November 2020 Waze had accompanied Raigad police for the arrestAPI Waze resumed work in June 2020 after remaining suspended for 16 years He was given the coveted post to head the Crime Intelligence Unit CIU of Mumbai policersquos Crime BranchWaze was arrested after 13 hours of questioning NIA said in its official statement ldquoSachin Waze arrested on 1332021 at 2350 hrsSachin Waze API Mumbai Police Crime Branch arrested for his role and involvement in Placing explosives laden vehicle near Carmichael Rood on 25th February 2021rdquoWaze has been booked under Sections 286 negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance 465 punishment for forgery 473 making or possessing counterfeit seal 506 punishment for criminal intimidation 120B criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code IPCldquoThe accused has been arrested based solely on suspicion No prima facie case appears to be established in the FIR The detention and arrest of the accused are completely illegal Even a dayrsquos incarceration would be violative of his constitutional rightrdquo advocate Sunny Punamiya Wazersquos counsel told middayldquoHe was not even informed on the grounds for arrest He was not given the option to seek legal opinion or call his family His custodial interrogation is not warranted arbitrary and the accused must be released on bail forthwithrdquo Punamiya addedThe Public Prosecutor appearing for NIA demanded maximum custody saying there is strong evidence against him and that there is a big conspiracy involving others He added that the accused needs to be interrogated with othersArrested based on videosAccording to sources the NIA arrested Waze based on leads that include video footages where he has allegedly used the Scorpio and based on statements of witnesses The agency scrutinised the CCTV camera footage from November 2020 to February 5 as Mansukh Hiranrsquos wife Vimla had alleged that Waze used the car in that period Sources also confirmed that NIA found one video where Waze along with CIU officers is seen near a similarlooking Scorpio but with a different number plate The video is believed to be of November 5 2020 the day Waze went to arrest TV anchor Arnab Goswami along with Raigad police in an abetment to suicide caseThe agency also traced the Innova seen tailing the Scorpio on February 25 near Antilia NIA officers confirmed that the Innova car was with the CIUFollowing Wazersquos arrest other officers and CIU staff have been questioned by the NIA to check if they were aware of the conspiracy or were a part of the same Senior officers also confirmed that as per rules Waze will be suspended and an order would be issued on Monday by the Mumbai police chiefrsquos officeThe timelineSachin VazeFeb 25 Abandoned Scorpio laden with explosive material found 500 meters away from Antilia A threat note was also found A case against unknown persons was registered The same night ATS identifies car as the one stolen on Feb 18 with an FIR registered with Vikhroli police ATS reaches out to car owner Mansukh HiranFeb 26 Hiran brought to the Commissioner of Policersquos office in South Mumbai by API Sachin WazeFeb 2728 Waze again records Hiranrsquos statementMarch 28 A terror organisation JaishUlHind claims it planted the Scorpio with explosives says this is just a trailer on a Telegram app Mumbai police disputes claim shares denial letter from the organisationMarch 1 Crime Branch realises Hiran and Waze know each other transfers case to Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Nitin AlaknureMarch 3 At Wazersquos suggestion after consulting a lawyer Hiran gives a harassment complaint against the police and media to the CM Mumbai and Thane police commissionersMarch 4 As per Hiranrsquos wife Vimla he left from home at 830 pm after receiving a call from an officer named Tawade from Kandivli policeMarch 5 Family files missing person complaint at Naupada police station Hiranrsquos body is found in the creek at Retibunder Mumbra Cause of death reserved but autopsy confirms antemortem injuries on the bodyMarch 6 After pressure from Devendra Fadanvis case transferred to ATSMarch 7 ATS files case of murder destruction of evidence conspiracy against unknown people Hiranrsquos wife says she suspects Waze to be behind her husbandrsquos murderMarch 8 Following orders from the MHA NIA takes over case from ATS which also questions Waze on that dayMarch 9 Devendra Fadnavis reads Vimlarsquos statement in the assemblyMarch 10 Waze transferred to Special Branch CM Uddhav Thackeray promises to punish guilty says Waze should not be targeted and that he is not Osama bin LadenMarch 11 A private cyber firm hired by Mumbai police claims JaishUlHindrsquos claim posted on Telegram from Tihar jail Delhi policersquos special cell recovers phones from a barrack where Indian Mujahideen and AlQaeda terrorists are lockedMarch 12 Waze posted at Mumbai policersquos Citizen Facilitation CentreMarch 12 Waze refused interim bail by a Thane court based on prima facie evidence in Hiranrsquos murder case Court asks ATS to file a reply by the next hearingMarch 13 Waze goes to the NIA office at 1150 pm and is arrested for allegedly planting the Scorpio near AntiliaMarch 14 Waze remanded to NIA custody till March 25