NIA raids former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma's residence

The National Investigation Agency raided encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma's residence on Thursday. The NIA team after carrying out searches later detained Sharma. Sharma had been interrogated twice by the agency following inquiry in the Mansukh Hiren murder case.

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted a raid at former encounter specialist' police officer Pradeep Sharma's residence in suburban Andheri here early on Thursday in connection with its probe into the Antilia' bomb scare case and Mansukh Hiren's murder, an official said. An NIA team along with armed CRPF personnel raided Sharma's house located in JB Nagar in Andheri west around 6 am, the official said, adding that a search is being carried out. The NIA team after carrying out searches later detained Sharma.

According to sources, Sharma is also being questioned by the NIA team in connection with the case. Roads leading to the building, where Sharma lives, have been cordoned off by the central security forces and public movement in the area has been restricted. After getting the information about the raid, the Mumbai police also deployed its personnel at the spot. Earlier, Sharma had been questioned by the NIA for two days at its office in south Mumbai as part of the probe.

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The central investigation agency had earlier arrested former police officers Sachin Waze, Riyazuddin Kazi, Sunil Mane, former police constable Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gour for their involvement in the case. It had recently arrested Santosh Shelar and Anand Jadhav in this connection. The NIA has said that both of them were allegedly involved in the conspiracy to plant an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence.

The SUV was found abandoned near Ambani's south Mumbai residence Antilia' on February 25 this year. Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the vehicle, was found dead at a Mumbra creek on March 5. The two linked cases, earlier being probed by Maharashtra Police, were later taken over by the NIA.

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(With inputs from agencies)