Mumbai:In a major development in the Antilia bomb scare case, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Tuesday told a special court in Mumbai that an accused was paid Rs 45 lakh to murder Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiren.
The NIA has asked the court 30 days time to file a chargesheet in the case.
On February 25, an SUV laden with explosives was found parked suspiciously outside Antilia, residence of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. The SUV was owned by Hiren, who had earlier filed a complaint with the police that his car had been stolen. On March 5, Hiren's body was found at Reti Bunder in Thane. Investigation into his death was being probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed it over to the NIA.
On April 7, the NIA had told the special court that Hiren was a co-conspirator along with suspended police officer Sachin Waze in planting the explosives-laden SUV outside Ambani's residence. The agency said the car theft complaint filed by Hiren was an attempt to hoodwink the police and part of a larger plan.
The NIA has so far recorded statements of 150 people in connection with the case. Former police officers Pradeep Sharma and Sachin Waze have been arrested.