Mercedes, BMW, Volvo: HC questions suspended cop Sachin Waze's lavish lifestyle

The Bombay High Court on Thursday questioned the use of high-end cars by dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze while hearing the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to him by a lower court in the Antilia bomb scare case.A bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Dr Neela Gokhale expressed surprise after Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh referred to witness statements describing Waze’s use of luxury vehicles while he was serving as an Assistant Police Inspector (API).During the hearing, Singh read out a witness statement in which Waze was described travelling in a black Mercedes and asking others accompanying him to switch off their mobile phones.The bench asked whether the Mercedes belonged to Waze and whether there was evidence showing that the vehicle was registered in his name. Singh replied in the affirmative. The court then questioned whether it was common for Assistant Police Inspectors to own such high-end vehicles.“Because we are yet to come across APIs riding in Mercedes,” the bench observed. The court also questioned the NIA about Waze’s other vehicles and examined a list of five cars he had used while serving as an Assistant Police Inspector.The list included a large white BMW, a black Volvo, a white Mercedes, a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and another black Mercedes.“Five cars he has!” the court remarked.COURT SEEKS DETAILS OF WAZE’S LIFESTYLEThe bench noted that statements cited by the NIA indicated that Waze travelled to the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office and Maharashtra Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha, in a high-end Mercedes.Singh also told the court that Waze had stayed at a seven-star hotel in South Mumbai for around 100 days.The bench questioned how Waze, whose monthly salary was around INR 90,000 at the time, could afford such a lifestyle.The court said the circumstances surrounding Waze’s finances, conduct and professional record were relevant while assessing the allegations against him.Singh said the NIA was linking Waze’s possession and use of the vehicles to the alleged extortion motive in the case.WAZE’S OTHER CASESWaze is accused in the Antilia bomb scare case, in which an explosives-laden SUV was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai in February 2021. He is also facing extortion-related proceedings involving former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.During the hearing, Singh referred to witness statements stating that Waze anticipated problems after the NIA became involved in the case and had allegedly instructed associates to destroy and dispose of electronic devices in the Mithi river.Waze is also an accused in a money-laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. A special CBI court had subsequently granted him pardon in a related case, though proceedings in the ED case continue.The Bombay High Court is examining the NIA’s plea seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Waze by the lower court.- Ends