CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: A Bombay High Court bench comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Ashish Chavan recused itself from hearing the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) appeal challenging the bail granted to former Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case. The matter was directed to be placed before another bench.
Justice Dangre cited her earlier recusal from a separate proceeding involving Waze, while Justice Chavan said he had previously appeared as a lawyer for the Central Bureau of Investigation in a distinct connected matter. The bench therefore declined to hear the NIA’s appeal.
The development followed another Bombay High Court bench, comprising Justices Sarang Kotwal and R.R. Bhonsale, recusing itself from the matter a day earlier. The NIA had approached the High Court after a special NIA court granted Waze bail on September 29.
Later on September 30, a third bench comprising Justices Girish S. Kulkarni and Neela K. Gokhale heard the NIA’s appeal and granted an ad-interim stay on Waze’s bail order until October 7. As a result, Waze remained in custody while the High Court considered the NIA’s challenge.
The special court had granted Waze bail after observing that the material before it did not prima facie establish the alleged offence as a terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA has challenged that assessment, arguing that the bail order was legally and factually erroneous.
The case relates to February 2021, when an SUV containing gelatin sticks and a threat note was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai. Businessman Mansukh Hiran, who had been associated with the vehicle, was later found dead in a creek in Thane. Waze was arrested by the NIA in March 2021 and has remained in custody in connection with the case.
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