The case dates back to February 25, 2021, when a threat note was found in a car parked near Antilia— the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani in South Mumbai. (File Photo)
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed till October 7 the special court’s order granting bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze, arrested in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder cases of 2021. This means that Sachin Waze will remain inside the Thane Central Prison until the next hearing in the Ambani home bomb scare case.
A bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Neela K Gokhale was hearing an appeal by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the special court’s September 29 order. In its appeal, the NIA claimed that the special court’s ruling was “erroneous” and “illegal”.
Sachin Waze has been in custody since 2021 and was booked for offences, including murder, criminal conspiracy, and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with provisions of the UAPA and the Arms Act. He was granted bail by a special Mumbai court on Tuesday.
The high court has also asked the state government lawyer to intimate the jail authorities about the stay order.
During the hearing today, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh for the NIA argued that Waze’s act in 2021 was a terrorist act.
Justice Kulkarni-led bench noted that while Waze’s lawyers had appeared before the earlier bench, despite notice being issued to them by NIA, he was not represented before it. Therefore, the bench adjourned the hearing and noted, “We are inclined to grant an ad-interim stay to the said order till the adjourned date of hearing.”
Earlier, the NIA struggled to find a bench to hear its challenge to Waze’s bail order as two High Court benches recused themselves from hearing it.
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“Since in some distinct proceedings filed by the same petitioner (Waze), one of us (Justice Bharati H Dangre) had already recused, the matter is directed not to be listed before the bench to which she is a party. As far as Justice Ashish S Chavan, who is also a member of the bench, he has also expressed difficulty as he had appeared for the CBI in a distinctly connected matter. Hence, we direct that the appeal shall not be listed before this bench,” the bench noted on Wednesday morning.
Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Sarang V Kotwal had recused from hearing the NIA appeal. Today, the central agency approached Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi. The matter was later assigned to a bench led by Justice Girish S Kulkarni.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
