Sachin Waze Bail Cancelled: Dismissed Cop to Stay in Jail for Antilia Scare
The Bombay High Court has cancelled the bail of dismissed cop Sachin Waze in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case.
In a significant legal blow to the dismissed Mumbai Police officer, the Bombay High Court has set aside and cancelled the bail previously granted to Sachin Waze. The court's decision ensures that Waze will remain incarcerated at Thane Central Prison in connection with the high-profile 2021 Antilia explosives scare and the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran.
The High Court's Intervention
The ruling came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenged a September 2026 order from the Special NIA Court, which had initially granted relief to Waze. A division bench of the High Court quashed that order, siding with the probe agency's appeal.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the NIA, contended that the Special Court had committed a grave error. He argued that the previous judge had ignored critical statements recorded from security personnel stationed at Antilia, the residence of businessman Mukesh Ambani.
The NIA's Theory: A Staged Terror Plot
The NIA has painted a chilling picture of the events that unfolded in 2021. According to the agency, Sachin Waze orchestrated the entire explosives scare to regain his lost influence and clout within the police force. The agency alleges that:
- Waze personally parked an SUV loaded with gelatin sticks outside the Ambani residence.
- The act was a stage-managed "terror threat" designed to be "solved" by Waze himself.
- When the owner of the vehicle, Mansukh Hiran, refused to cooperate or take the fall for the plot, Waze eliminated him to remove the weakest link in the conspiracy.
The Defense's Argument
Representing Waze, Senior Advocate VM Thorat attempted to downplay the severity of the crime. He argued that because the gelatin sticks were planted without detonators, the intent was merely to create a scare rather than to cause actual mass terror. Consequently, the defense argued that Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) should not apply.
Furthermore, the defense highlighted that Waze had been in incarceration since March 2021, pleading for relief based on the duration of his imprisonment.
Why the Bail Was Denied
The Special NIA Court had originally questioned the applicability of the UAPA terror charges and noted that there were no recorded statements from the Ambani family. However, the Bombay High Court found these grounds for relief to be unsustainable.
By upholding the severe restrictions imposed under the UAPA, the High Court formally cancelled the bail order on November 5, 2026. As a result, the dismissed officer will continue to stay behind bars as the legal proceedings continue.