"This should not happen again:" NIA Court pulls up defence lawyers in connection with leak of Sachin Waze’s statement

The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court on Friday pulled up the lawyers appearing for Mumbai cop Sachin Waze in connection with the statement of Waze which allegedly was leaked to the media on Wednesday..The Court was hearing case pertaining to explosives laden SUV found outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence..In the statement Waze had made allegations against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Shiv Sena Minister Anil Parab accusing them of demanding Waze to extort money to the tune of Rs. 100 crores from restaurants and Bars in Mumbai. .Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves appearing for NIA, submitted that after directing Waze to submit the said statement by following the proper procedure under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the statement ”somehow got leaked to the media”..Additional Sessions Judge PR Sitre pulled up the lawyers of Waze for letting it happen. .”I never said don’t file. I only said proper procedure under CrPC has to be followed. This ought not have happened and this should not happen again. He is unaware, but you are his lawyer, you should know the procedure,” the Court said..Senior Advocate Abad Ponda appearing for Waze submitted that he had no clue about how the letter was leaked to the media adding that he is completely against the same. .NIA had moved an application seeking judicial custody of Waze which was allowed by the court and Waze was remanded to judicial custody till April 23, 2021..The CBI had also filed an application before the NIA court seeking access to the documents of the NIA..They specifically sought documents belonging to the co-accused Vinayak Shinde and Sachin Waze which allegedly contained details of the extortion money which was essential to investigate the Preliminary Enquiry registered by CBI against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh..Gonsalves submitted that if CBI would approach the investigating officers from NIA. then they would co-operate with CBI and “work out something to enable their investigation“..After this submission, the Court allowed CBI’s application and asked them to approach NIA. .The Court also remanded Waze to judicial custody till April 23, 2021 in the case pertaining to explosives loaded SUV found outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence..Waze was remanded to NIA custody till April 9, 2021. The court also granted permission to the CBI to interrogate Waze on the allegations against Deshmukh.