An abandoned green Scorpio in a tight security zone found with 20 unassembled gelatin sticks close to India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s house, Antilia, in Mumbai on Thursday evening.
Police sources say that the unidentified Scorpio SUV was parked in Carmichael Road close to Antilia at around 1 am Wednesday night, according to the CCTV footage. It is also noted that an Innova was also seen driving away while the Scorpio remained parked near his house according to India Today.
It is said that Ambani’s security personnel noticed it first and alerted the local police.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad or BDDS team, dog squad, and quick response team (QRT) commandos arrived at the spot. There were also around hundred police officers around the area checking the SUV. They towed away the green-colored Scorpio. Investigations are underway.
On examining the vehicle, they found 20 explosive gelatin sticks inside and state it was not an assembled explosive device. Further investigations are going on, police sources state.
Police sources also state that a letter was found inside the vehicle but did not reveal its contents. Interestingly, they noted that the vehicle’s registration number matched one on Mr. Ambani’s security detail. It is presumed to be a fake number plate registered under Reliance’s name.
Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra Home Minister said in a statement, “A Scorpio van with some gelatin was found at some distance from Mukesh Ambani’s home in Mumbai. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating it. The truth will come out,”
The area has been cordoned off for security purposes and further investigations.
While investigations on the explosives are on, it is yet to be determined how an unidentified vehicle with a Reliance number plate was found in such a top security heavily-guarded zone close to the billionaire tycoon’s house.
Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, chairperson, managing director, and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries Ltd holds the fifth slot in the world’s richest persons’ list. He has a net worth of $74.4 billion. He lives in a luxurious, 27-storey, 400,000 square feet building called Antilia in south Mumbai’s posh Cumballa Hill area.
Antilia is designed by a Chicago-based firm called Perkins and Will, and reports say has a ballroom, terrace gardens, a 50-seat theatre, a 168-car garage, three helipads, nine high-speed elevators, swimming pool, spa, health center, a temple, and a snow room among other rooms.
Antilia cost $1 billion and the 27-floor skyscraper has been valued at US$2 billion, making it the second most valuable property in the world, with only Buckingham Palace worth more.
The Snow Room an icy room in Ambani’s house that produces artificial ice.
