A petition seeking to make former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh a co-accused in the Antilia explosives case was heard for about an hour in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Saturday, according to a report by Navbharat Times – Mumbai.
The petition was filed by retired assistant commissioner of police Bhimraj Rohidas Ghadge. His lawyer, Nilesh Ojha, argued that Singh had filed a reply affidavit containing what the lawyer described as two serious errors and false statements. Ojha alleged that the affidavit interfered with judicial proceedings and attempted to mislead the court.
The petitioner’s side reportedly invoked the procedure under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, now corresponding to Section 379 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Ojha argued that when alleged fraud is raised before a court during proceedings or an inquiry, the person accused of the conduct does not have a right to intervene in the same manner. He questioned why Singh had submitted an affidavit when, according to the lawyer, the court had not sought one from him.
Ojha also urged that a reference for contempt of court proceedings be sent against Singh and his lawyer to the Bombay High Court. These are submissions made on behalf of the petitioner and have not been established as findings by the court in the material supplied for the report.
The Antilia case relates to the recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai in February 2021. The investigation led to the arrest of dismissed police officer Sachin Waze and triggered scrutiny of the functioning of the Mumbai Police, its intelligence units and the chain of command within the force.
According to the report, Ojha alleged that Singh was the principal conspirator and mastermind behind the events under consideration. He also claimed that Singh had brought Waze back into the police force and appointed him head of the Crime Intelligence Unit. The lawyer further referred to the handling of investigations involving Disha Salian, Sushant Singh Rajput and journalist Arnab Goswami, alleging that the officials involved had acted together.
The lawyer said an affidavit had also been submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation in relation to the allegations concerning Waze. He questioned how a subordinate officer could undertake such significant actions without the permission of a superior officer.
The hearing is significant because the petition seeks to widen the set of individuals facing criminal proceedings in a case that has already raised questions about police accountability, supervisory responsibility and the use of specialised units within Mumbai’s law-enforcement system. The court’s decision on the request to add Singh as a co-accused, and on the allegations concerning his affidavit, remains awaited.
