Antilia bomb case: NIA conducts raid at former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma and takes him into custody

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, June 17, carried out a raid at the residence of Shiv Sena leader and former 'encounter specialist' of Mumbai Police, Pradeep Sharma, in connection with its probe into the 'Antilia' bomb scare case and Mansukh Hiran's murder.

An NIA team along with armed CRPF personnel raided Sharma's house in Andheri West around 6 am, the official said.

The NIA also questioned Sharma at his residence. Regarded as the 'encounter king of Mumbai' for eliminating more than 300 criminals, former Senior Police Inspector Pradeep Sharma resides on the sixth floor of the Bhagwan Bhavan building in JB Nagar, a neighbourhood in Andheri (East), Mumbai.

Earlier, Sharma had been questioned by the NIA for two days at its office in south Mumbai as part of the probe.

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.

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.

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After getting the information about the raid, the Mumbai police also deployed its personnel at the spot.

The NIA had quizzed Pradeep Sharma in April over his series of meetings with Sachin Waze, the then head of Crime Branch's Criminal Intelligence Unit. Waze is currently in custody on the charges of planting an explosive-laden SUV near Antilia, the multi-storey residence of top industrialist Mukesh Ambani in South Mumbai, on February 25. He is also said to be involved in the murder of the SUV owner and Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran.

Hiran was found dead at a Mumbra creek on March 5.

As per the call data records of the mobile phones, Sharma had been in regular touch with Waze. Sources had earlier suggested that Waze and Sharma had met at Mumbai police headquarters in the first week of March. Besides meeting Waze, Pradeep Sharma had also seen Vinayak Shinde, another accused in the murder of Mansukh Hiran.

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