Mumbai: Signalling a major breakthrough in the SUV case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday managed to retrieve some electronic devices and other key evidence from the Mithi River in which they were allegedly dumped by arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze.

NIA took Vaze and a team of divers to the river’s branch near the Bandra Kurla Complex

The NIA took Vaze and a team of divers to the river’s branch near the Bandra Kurla Complex where the articles crucial to the probe were said to be dumped weeks ago, and a search was launched.

The divers, after several rounds searching in the murky waters of the river, finally managed to recover two computer CPUs or hard drives, two digital video recorders (DVRs), a laptop and some registration number plates of unknown vehicles.

The evidence fished out on Sunday will be sent to the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory for analysis and to recover whatever data possible that could assist the investigations.

The NIA is currently probing the sensitive twin cases of planting of a SUV Scorpio with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note near Antilia, the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on February 25, followed by the death of SUV owner, Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran on March 5, sparking a nationwide political furore.

The destruction and possible dumping of the evidence first came to light during the interrogation of Vaze’s colleague API Riyazuddin Kazi and senior officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Nitin Alaknure in connection with the case.

Earlier, the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), which was probing the Hiran death case, had also said that several evidence including mobile phones, SIM cards, CCTV footage and other things that were allegedly destroyed to cover up the crime tracks.