Devendra Fadnavis demands arrest of Maharashtra cop accused of harassing man killed in Mukesh Ambani security scare case

 Questioning the death of Hiren Mansukh, a car parts dealer who police first thought to be the owner of the vehicle, Fadnavis said Vaze should be arrested and alleged that he may destroy evidence.

He read out Mansukh's wife's statement in the First Information Report which tells the alleged sequence of events in the days leading up to his death.

"Sachin Vaze should be punished. You are giving him the chance to destroy the evidence. And just because he (Vaze) entered a certain political party, he is being saved. How is he even taken in the force? He needs to be first suspended," Fadnavis was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Fortyfive-year-old Mansukh was found dead near a creek last Friday, a Than police official had told news agency ANI. On March 2, he had written a letter addressing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Mumbai Police Commissioner alleging by police and journalists. He had also pleaded for police protection and legal action against the intimidation.

In his letter, he had elaborated how the car was stolen and said that the police were harassing him.

He had told the police that he had done the interiors of the car owned by one Sam Muteb and had only reported the car's theft. He had not returned the car to its owner as he was not paid for the work, Deshmukh said.

CCTV footage had shown Mansukh leaving his house on Thursday, the report said.

BJP Maharashtra had demanded that the case be handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze is currently serving in the Crime Intelligence Unit.

Responding to Fadnavis' demand, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh accused him of suppressing the investigation in the murder of interior designer Anvay Naik's suicide case during his time as chief minister.

"The statement by Hiren Mansukh's wife is now everywhere in media. So the ATS is investigating this case and if the opposition has more proof and evidence, then they should give it to the ATS. And as the Home Minister, I will tell you and assure that no one will be spared," Deshmukh said, reported NDTV.