Gelatin sticks seized near Mumbai traced to same company that made Antilia case explosives

Thane police on Monday seized an incredible and shocking lo comprising 12,000 explosive gelatin sticks and 3,008 detonators from Karivali area in Bhiwandi near Mumbai. Following this, two people have been arrested -  owner of company named Mittal Enterprises, Gurunath Mhatre, and his supplier from Sangamner, Amol Jondale. Both of m have been sent to police custody for furr investigation into matter.

However, what has w come to light on basis of remand copy accessed by Republic TV, is that among gelatin sticks seized, products worth Rs 1,50,000 allegedly belonged to a company called Solar Industries India limited based out of Nagpur, whereas gelatin sticks worth Rs 7,500 have allegedly been procured from a company called Deccan Power. On or hand, detonators worth Rs 45,120 have allegedly been manufactured by Solar AED Ultrasafe. 

Gelatin sticks at Antilia and cache recovered in Bhiwandi traced back to same company

When 20 gelatin sticks were found in a Scorpio car near Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilla in February, y were traced back to same company from Nagpur named Solar Industries Limited.

company h n confirmed that sticks were from its stable, and h ded that re is system of tracking individual explosive cartridges.

However, senior officials from Thane police said that y are still investigating case and y haven’t found links of Bhiwandi gelatin sticks case to any or case yet.

" number of explosives recovered could have caused a blast that would affect entire Thane if anything went wrong," said a senior official from Thane police.

Krishna Kokni of Thane crime branch unit 1, who led operation on a tip-off from one of members of unit named Ananda Bhilare, said that Mhatre did t hold any legal documents to justify possession of gelatin sticks. 

Thane police says it is yet to find any connection with Antilia bomb scare case; probe on

"Detonators and gelatin sticks cant be kept toger in one place, even if one of m gets attached, it can cause huge dam. In case of Mhatre, primarily it looks like a case of negligence because he h stored explosives in two gar-like rooms, which was a risk to his life and those staying around in chawl as well. Mhatre was engd in mining and quarrying work, and he has informed us that he used gelatin sticks and detonators for that. As of w, we haven’t found any connection," says Kokni. 

He ded that only reason that Mhatre has been arrested was that he did t have a license to procure or keep explosives. On or hand, Jondale has license for supplying explosives but will be questioned furr to understand links in this case and to kw how he supplied explosives to someone without a license.

However, when a senior official from Thane police was asked about gelatin sticks belonging to same company as that found in Antilia case, he said, "re is a mopoly of certain companies in this field, which is why possibility arises. One may find gelatin sticks of same company in Manipur as well."

A case has been registered against both accused at Bhoiwa police station in Bhiwandi under section 286 (Negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) of Indian Penal Code and section 5 (Punishment for making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances) of Explosive Substance Act, 1908. 

Ar officer from crime branch said that Bhiwandi case is parallelly being investigated by Anti-Terrorist Squ and Intelligence Bureau as well.

Antilia bomb scare

On February 25, a green Scorpio car len with gelatin sticks was found by Mumbai Police outside Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia along with a threatening letter. Primary investigation from CCTV h revealed that car was parked near residence a night prior. 

Later, on March 5, Mansukh Hiren, owner of car in question, was found de at Kalwa creek and police h claimed that he committed suicide by jumping into stream. However, his wife alleged that he was murdered and mentioned that n Mumbai Police API Sachin Vaze who was, in fact, assigned case, was using Hiren’s car since vember. Following NIA's investigation, accused Mumbai Police cop Sachin Vaze, who is w lodged in Taloja jail, was first suspended and n dismissed from service. Vaze is prime accused in Antilia bomb scare probe and murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren. This series of developments have caused fallout and ouster of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and former Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh who are both w being investigated.