Aurangabad, March 29: A resident of Aurangabad has claimed that the number plate, which was recovered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from the Mithi River in Mumbai in connection with the probe of Mansukh Hiren's death case, belongs to him.

The number plate belongs to a car owned by a man named Vijay Nade who claimed that his car was stolen from Uddhavrao Patil Chowk in Aurangabad and he had also registered a complaint about the same at the Chowk Police Station.

"My car with the number 'MH-20-FP-1539 T' was stolen on November 16, 2020, and an FIR was filed. I have a copy of the same. For three months, there was no information but yesterday, I was informed about it," said Nade. The NIA on Sunday took suspended Mumbai Police crime branch officer Sachin Waze to the bridge over the Mithi river in connection with the probe of Mansukh Hiren's death case. Mansukh Hiren Death Case: NIA Recovers Computer CPUs, Number Plates From Mithi River in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (Watch Video).

The NIA divers had recovered computer CPUs, two number plates carrying the same registration number, and other items from the Mithi river in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. Accused Waze was also present at the spot On March 21, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered the NIA to take over the Mansukh Hiren death case.

Hiren, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives materials outside the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, was found dead on March 5 in Thane. Investigation into his death was being probed by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), till the MHA handed over the probe to the NIA. Mansukh Hiren Death Case: Sachin Waze Tried to Destroy Various Evidence, Says NIA Sources.

Waze, Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) who was in charge of the Hiren case, was in NIA custody till March 25, for his alleged role and involvement in placing the explosives-laden vehicle outside the residence of Ambani. Later a special NIA court on March 25 allowed the agency custody till April 3.