The Bombay High Court has kept Sachin Waze’s bail on hold while hearing the National Investigation Agency’s challenge to his release in the 2021 Antilia explosives case and the Mansukh Hiren murder case. The court heard the NIA’s arguments for about two hours on Wednesday and is scheduled to resume the hearing at 3 pm on Thursday.
Waze, a dismissed Mumbai Police officer, was granted bail by a special NIA court on September 29 in the Antilia case. The NIA has challenged that order before the High Court, which has temporarily stayed the operation of the bail order. Waze will remain in custody until the High Court decides whether the stay should continue and whether the special court’s bail decision should stand.
The special court had ordered Waze’s release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of the same amount. It had also imposed restrictions on his movement. Until statements from key witnesses were recorded, Waze was barred from entering Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts. He was directed to surrender his passport and provide details of his proposed residence within seven days.
During the High Court hearing, the NIA alleged that Waze had personally parked the SUV outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia, in south Mumbai, with explosive material inside it. According to the agency, the act was intended to draw attention to Waze and create the impression that he had solved a major case, presenting himself as a “super cop”. These are allegations made by the NIA and remain subject to adjudication by the court.
The agency also alleged that Waze was involved in the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren, who had possessed the SUV later found near Antilia. The NIA’s case, as reported during the proceedings, is that Hiren was considered a weak link who could expose the alleged conspiracy. Hiren’s body was found in a creek in Thane on March 5, 2021, days after the SUV was discovered near Antilia.
The vehicle was found on February 25, 2021, with explosive material and a threatening letter, according to the NIA’s submissions. Hiren had claimed that the SUV had been stolen from his possession. Waze was arrested a few days after Hiren’s body was recovered.
The special court had held that the prosecution had not made out a prima facie case of terrorism against Waze under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It also observed that the gelatin sticks recovered from the vehicle did not have detonators and, at the preliminary stage, did not establish a direct terrorist act or a threat to the country’s economic security.
Waze’s lawyers have relied on the bail granted earlier to co-accused Pradeep Sharma and Sunil Mane to seek relief on the ground of parity. They have also argued that Waze has been in custody since March 13, 2021, while the case involves about 320 witnesses and a chargesheet running to more than 14,000 pages, making an early conclusion of the trial unlikely.
According to the report, charges were framed on August 1, 2026, against Waze and nine other accused under the UAPA, murder and other provisions. The Bombay High Court is scheduled to continue hearing the NIA’s challenge on Thursday, while the stay on Waze’s bail remains in force.
