Politics · India Bureau
Mumbai court grants bail to ex-cop in 2021 Antilia bomb scare case
A National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai has granted bail to suspended police officer Sachin Vaze in connection with the 2021 bomb threat near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence, citing insufficient evidence of terrorism charges under the UAPA.
LSN India ·
The NIA court questioned the applicability of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the case, noting that investigators had failed to establish that the Ambani family was terrorised or that the contents of the vehicle constituted a terrorist act. The decision marks a significant development in the high-profile investigation that captured national attention when an explosives-laden SUV was found near the Antilia high-rise in south Mumbai in February 2021.
Vaze, a former encounter specialist with the Mumbai Police, was suspended following his arrest in connection with the incident. The court's observation that the evidence did not meet the threshold for invoking stringent anti-terror provisions has cast doubt on the prosecution's case under the UAPA.
The court separately confirmed that the death of Mansukh Hiran, a businessman whose role in the case drew considerable scrutiny, was not connected to alleged terrorist activities. Hiran, a former associate of Vaze, died in a car explosion in March 2021, weeks after the Antilia bomb scare.
The bail grant comes as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosive device continues. The case has remained one of Mumbai's most closely watched matters, with implications for multiple investigating agencies and law enforcement practices.