BharatiyaJanata Party MP Narayan Rane has sought the resignation of Maharashtra ChiefMinister Uddhav Thackeray as the government grapples with the fallout of theSUV case, here on Thursday.
Ranetook umbrage at the manner in which Assistant Police Inspector Vaze was postedto the Crime Branch despite being under suspension, always shielding him anddelaying taking action against the official.
Itwas only after the Opposition pressure that action was taken against Vaze andlater the Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh was transferred on Wednesday andreplaced by Hemant Nagrale as the new city police chief, Rane said.
"Ifeel that the CM is to be blamed for reinstating Sachin Vaze in the policeforce given his past record, the subsequent death of Mansukh Hiran and othersHence, he must own up moral responsibility and resign," Rane demanded.
BesidesRane - a former Shiv Sena CM - several other senior BJP leaders like stateLeader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis have attacked the Maha Vikas Aghadi(MVA) government on the SUV case, the death of Hiran and the Vaze imbroglio allof which have heated the state political atmosphere.
TheSUV case - in which a Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note wasfound parked near the home industrialist Mukesh Ambani on February 25 - isbeing probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has arrested Vazeand probing other Mumbai Police officials.
Thedeath case of Hiran - whose body was found in the Thane Creek wetlands on March5 - is being investigated by the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Thereare indications that the NIA may take over the Hiran case since both thehigh-profile and ultra-sensitive matters are closely interlinked and triggereda massive political row with both the MVA and Opposition hurling allegations ateach other.