Mumbai Police custody extended for Sachin Waze till November 13 in extortion case

A Mumbai Court has extended remand of dismissed cop Sachin Waze with Mumbai Police till November 13, 2021 in the extortion case filed by businessman Bimal Agarwal.

. Waze, who is presently in judicial custody in the explosives laden SUV case, was allowed to be taken into custody by Mumbai Police for interrogation in connection with the extortion case registered in Mumbai suburbs.

On November 1, 2021, the Crime Branch moved the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate to seek his further custody for interrogation in the case.

Accordingly, custody was granted till today by the Holiday Magistrate.

. On Saturday when the Magistrate was informed by the Mumbai Police that they wanted Waze's further custody, he conceded for the same. Thereafter, the Magistrate ordered extension of remand till November 13, 2021.

. Special Public Prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap appearing for Mumbai Police stated that Waze had been reinstated by senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh after 17 years of suspension in an alleged custodial death case.

He stated that Waze used to indulge in various extortion activities which included threatening businessmen with registration of cases if they did not pay the extortion amounts. Hence his role in the present case seemed vital and required investigation.

. Jagtap stated that while Waze and Singh shared a major chunk of the extortion amount, some of the extortion money was shared amongst others which was to be traced. The police were approached with one victim and they wanted to trace the others.

. The Mumbai Police stated in their remand application that they needed to find out who apart from Singh helped Waze in the extortion. They also needed to find out what the extortion amount was and how was it procured.

The police stated that they wanted to track down how many other such offences have been committed by Waze and under what circumstances Waze and other wanted accused met.

The police also wanted to know from Waze about Singh's whereabouts who is claimed to have been missing.

The crime branch said that "complainant's voice samples have been sent for forensic test. Witness statements have been recorded. Mobile phones given to Sachin Waze by the Complainant as part of the extortion has been seized."

. While co-accused Alpesh Patel was absconding he destroyed mobile phone and SIM card which was used during the offence. In view of this, the prosecution added Section 201 of Indian Penal Code considering there was possibility that evidence had been destroyed.

Mumbai Police custody extended for Sachin Waze till November 13 in extortion case

Neha Joshi

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