The Mumbai 'Encounter Specialist' caught between elite policing and criminal allegations
In short: Sachin Vaze was a rising star in the Mumbai Police, famous for solving complex cybercrimes and taking down notorious gangsters. Yet, his career is a turbulent saga of high-stakes investigations, controversial extrajudicial killings, and allegations of extortion that have left him in federal custody.
Born in Kolhapur in 1972, Sachin Vaze's career is defined by his role as an 'encounter specialist.' Within the Mumbai-Thane area, he was allegedly involved in the extrajudicial deaths of 63 criminals, including the notorious gangster Munna Nepali. While his skills in detecting international credit card fraud in 1997 earned him significant fame, his methods have remained a subject of intense scrutiny.
Vaze's career has been marked by cycles of suspension and reinstatement. In 2004, he was suspended following the custodial death of Khwaja Yunus, leading to his resignation in 2007. However, in June 2020, the Maharashtra government under Uddhav Thackeray reinstated him during the COVID-19 pandemic to address staff shortages. This reinstatement became a political flashpoint, with former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claiming the move was pressured by the Shiv Sena.
The most recent crisis began in early 2021. Vaze was the lead investigator in the Antilia bomb scare, involving an explosive-laden vehicle found outside Mukesh Ambani's residence on 25 February 2021. This incident was followed by the death of Mansukh Hiren, the man who reported the vehicle stolen. By March 2021, Vaze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency. Allegations surfaced that he was involved in an extortion scheme, with his former supervisor, Param Bir Singh, claiming Vaze sought ₹100 Crore monthly from Mumbai businesses. Vaze was officially dismissed from the police force on 11 May 2021.
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