The Bombay High Court has extended the interim stay on the bail granted to dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze in the 2021 Antilia bomb-scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, as the National Investigation Agency's appeal against his release continues to be heard.
A division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale extended the stay while the matter continues for hearing, according to reports in The Tribune and Deccan Herald. Waze remains lodged in Thane Central Prison.
NIA's allegations in court
Opposing Waze's release, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, told the court that Waze had planted the explosives-laden SUV outside Antilia, the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, to salvage his own reputation — so that he could appear as a "super cop" by pretending to solve the case, as reported by both outlets.
The agency further alleged that Waze killed his associate, businessman Mansukh Hiran — who had possession of the vehicle — because he was a "weak link" who could expose the conspiracy. These claims were made in the NIA's submissions during the appeal hearing and have not been adjudicated as findings of fact.
The agency termed the special NIA court's September 29 bail order "illegal and bad in law". ASG Singh also told the high court that statements of three Antilia security personnel had in fact been recorded, countering the special court's observation.
Why the special court had granted bail
The special court's September 29 order held that the agency had not made out a prima facie case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and noted that the NIA had not recorded the statements of any member of the Ambani family to establish that they had been terrorised, The Tribune reported.
The case dates back to February 25, 2021, when an SUV containing explosives was found near Antilia. Businessman Mansukh Hiran was found dead in a Thane creek on March 5, 2021, and Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13, 2021. Earlier, on September 30, a bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Ashish Chavan recused itself from hearing the NIA's appeal, with Justice Sarang Kotwal's bench also having recused earlier, according to reports.
Sources:
Waze planted explosives-laden SUV outside Mukesh Ambani's house 'Antilia' to appear as super cop by solving case: NIA (The Tribune)
Sachin Waze planted explosives-laden SUV outside Ambani house to appear as super cop by solving case: NIA (Deccan Herald)
A division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale extended the stay while the matter continues for hearing, according to reports in The Tribune and Deccan Herald. Waze remains lodged in Thane Central Prison.
NIA's allegations in court
Opposing Waze's release, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, told the court that Waze had planted the explosives-laden SUV outside Antilia, the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, to salvage his own reputation — so that he could appear as a "super cop" by pretending to solve the case, as reported by both outlets.
The agency further alleged that Waze killed his associate, businessman Mansukh Hiran — who had possession of the vehicle — because he was a "weak link" who could expose the conspiracy. These claims were made in the NIA's submissions during the appeal hearing and have not been adjudicated as findings of fact.
The agency termed the special NIA court's September 29 bail order "illegal and bad in law". ASG Singh also told the high court that statements of three Antilia security personnel had in fact been recorded, countering the special court's observation.
Why the special court had granted bail
The special court's September 29 order held that the agency had not made out a prima facie case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and noted that the NIA had not recorded the statements of any member of the Ambani family to establish that they had been terrorised, The Tribune reported.
The case dates back to February 25, 2021, when an SUV containing explosives was found near Antilia. Businessman Mansukh Hiran was found dead in a Thane creek on March 5, 2021, and Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13, 2021. Earlier, on September 30, a bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Ashish Chavan recused itself from hearing the NIA's appeal, with Justice Sarang Kotwal's bench also having recused earlier, according to reports.
Sources:
Waze planted explosives-laden SUV outside Mukesh Ambani's house 'Antilia' to appear as super cop by solving case: NIA (The Tribune)
Sachin Waze planted explosives-laden SUV outside Ambani house to appear as super cop by solving case: NIA (Deccan Herald)
