Sachin Waze’s Bail Cancelled in Antilia Bomb Scare Case, Rules Bombay High Court in National Investigation Agency v. State of Maharashtra
Case: National Investigation Agency v. State of Maharashtra and Another
Date of Judgment: 05 November 2026
Court: High Court of Bombay
Coram: Justice G.S. Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale
Proceedings: NIA’s appeal against the special court order dated 29 September 2026 granting bail
Court Observation
“If such actions are not dealt strictly, with iron hands the law would mandate, the rule of law itself would be at a peril,”
Summary
The Bombay High Court has cancelled the bail granted to former Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiren murder case, allowing the appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency against the special court’s order of 29 September 2026. The special court had questioned the applicability of terrorism charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Waze, noting an absence of statements from the Ambani family.
The High Court found strong prima facie material linking Waze to terrorist acts intended to threaten India’s economic security and strike terror, and held that prolonged pre-trial incarceration cannot be a singular or sole consideration for bail. The Court rejected the defence argument that the acts were merely a stunt to regain clout, and concluded that releasing Waze would be against the public interest, noting the risk of evidence tampering given his influence and connections. Waze remains lodged in Thane Central Prison.
Key Holdings
- There is prima facie material indicating acts intended to threaten the unity, integrity and security, including the economic security, of the country, and intended to strike terror among a section of the people.
- Prolonged pre-trial incarceration cannot be a singular factor or a sole consideration for bail in the facts of the present case.
- The consequences of the acts amount to the commission of serious crimes, and the defence notion that they were just a stunt was completely dismissed.
- Releasing the accused would be against the public interest, given his influence, abnormal track record and proximity to influential persons, which expose a risk of evidence tampering.
Background
In February 2021, a gelatin-laden SUV was parked outside Antilia, the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The vehicle owner, Mansukh Hiren, was later found dead. The NIA alleged that Waze parked the SUV for extortion and to stage-manage a terror plot, hoping to solve it himself and project himself as a supercop, and that Hiren was eliminated when he refused to take the fall. A special court granted Waze bail on 29 September 2026; the NIA appealed, and the High Court has now quashed that order.
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Disclaimer: This is a summary prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should refer to the official judgment for the authoritative text.
