The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reprimanded the lawyers that appeared for Sachin Waze, in connection to his statement being leaked in the media, on Friday (April 9, 2021).

The case pertains to the discovery of an explosive-laden SUV outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence. 

Allegations against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Shiv Sena Minister Anil Parab, asking Waze to extort Rs 100 Crores from restaurants and bars in Mumbai were made by Waze in his impugned statement. 

Sunil Gonsalves, the Special Public Prosecutor appeared for NIA. He submitted that even after directions were given to Waze to submit his said statements as per the proper procedure under CrPC, the statement still “somehow got leaked to the media”.

The lawyers appearing for Waze were chided by Additional Sessions Judge, PR Sitre in the following words: 

“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.”

Abad Ponda, Senior Advocate appearing for Waze claimed to have no clue regarding the leak of his statement. 

Waze was remanded to judicial custody till April 23, 2021, after the Court approved NIA’s application for the same. Additionally, CBI wanted to seek access to the documents of this case from the NIA and filed an application for it. 

Details of extortion money are supposedly contained in the said documents which belong to co-accused Vinayak Shinde and Sachin Waze the Preliminary Enquiry registered by CBI against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. 

Gonsalves assured CBI’s cooperation with NIA and said they will “work out something to enable their investigation.” CBI’s application was thereby approved by the Court. 

Waze remanded to the NIA custody till April 9, 2021. Following this, permission to interrogate Waze on his allegations against Deshmukh was granted by the Court.