NIA Court Rejects Second Default Bail Plea of Dismissed Police Inspector Sachin Waze in Ambani Bomb Scare Case

A special NIA court on Thursday refused default bail to dismissed Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze in the Antilia bomb scare-Mansukh Hiran murder case. The court also granted the National Investigation Agency an extension of another 30 days to file their charge sheet on a plea. Special Judge DE Kothalikar said that Waze's plea was meritless and that the court would have ideally imposed costs, but it was not doing so since he was in custody. Waze had claimed that he was entitled to bail as the NIA had failed to file the charge sheet within 90 days from the date of his arrest on March 13, 2021. The Special NIA Court rejected Waze's first default bail application on June 9, granting NIA two months to file a charge sheet against him. In his bail application, Waze has cited the case of State Of Maharashtra vs Mrs. Bharati Chandmal Varma and argued in person accordingly. The prosecution opposed the application on the ground that Waze was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and they required more time to investigate. In addition, they alleged that huge sums of money had exchanged hands. So far 10 people have been arrested in the case. The Case An explosives-laden Scorpio Car and a threat letter were found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence on February 25. Mansukh Hiran, a businessman who claimed that the vehicle had been stolen from his possession a week earlier, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5. NIA has said that Waze was involved in the planting of explosives and Hiran's murder. They claimed that the 'murderers' had called up Waze and former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma right after they killed Hiran, on March 4. Waze was arrested on March 13. The NIA subsequently arrested constable Vinayak Shinde and bookie Naresh Gore, Waze's close aide API Riyazudding Qazi (crime branch unit incharge), Sunil Mane were arrested thereafter. On June 11, Santosh Shelar and Anand Jadhav were taken into custody. Pradeep Sharma and Mansukh Hiran's alleged killers -Satish Muthukari and Manish Soni- were arrested on July 17. Waze was initially investigating the case. However, it was subsequently transferred to the State Anti Terrorism Squad and then to the NIA, in March, 2021. The accused are booked for murder and under relevant sections of the UA(P) Act.

NIA Court Rejects Second Default Bail Plea of Dismissed Police Inspector Sachin Waze in Ambani Bomb Scare Case

Sharmeen Hakim

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