Shortly after the shootout on September 12, 1992, Shripat Bhiku Tambe, driver of Jaywant Suryarao, former chairperson of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Muncipal Council, had deposed that he had driven Suryarao to Nagpada and aided the escape of some of the key accused in the case. However, while deposing before the designated TADA judge P K Chavare today, Tambe said he had driven Suryarao to Mantralaya and other places, and that his earlier statement was made under duress.

As per the earlier statement, Tambe said he had driven Suryarao, who was accompanied by his bodyguard constable Bhise, to Nagpada in Suryarao's official car. One Shyam Garikapatti was picked up on the way. As soon as the car reached Nagapada, accused Zahoor Faki was waiting near a mutton shop. Suryarao alighted and went into one of the lanesalong with Faki. Suryarao and Faki then returned to the car along with an injured person, later identified as Shrikant Rai alias Pradhan, and Dr Bansal. The doctor has since been discharged from the case.

Suryarao and the others then dropped off Suryarao and Bhise at Hotel Holiday Inn, Tambe had said. Tambe then took Pradhan and Dr Bansal to Shriprabhu Nursing Home. When Tambe went into the home to check on Dr Bansal, he saw him treating Pradhan. Dr Bansal then asked him to return to Holiday Inn.

When Tambe reached the hotel, Suryarao told him to drive him back to Nagpada to meet Faki again. There, Subhash Singh Thakur and Sunil Sawant were picked up and taken to Santacruz after dropping Suryarao and his bodyguard at Holiday Inn. According to Tambe, he had torn the entries in the log book made that day at the instance of Suryarao. The torn pages were later recovered from Suryarao when he was arrested.

Today, Tambe had a different tale to tell. He said he hadn't gone to Nagpada but to Mantralaya andother places. At this point of time he was declared hostile by Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian who later cross-examined him. During cross-examination, Tambe was shown the entries of the torn pages. He admitted that the writing was his, but stated that he had made the entries at the instance of the police.

Earlier, Suryarao's bodyguard had supported the prosecution case and had identified Suryarao, Subhash Singh Thakur and Faki.