Antilia terror scare case: NIA opposes plea of dismissed cop Sunil Mane to turn approver

In the two-page reply filed before the special court, the NIA has said that Mane’s role in the commission of the crime has been detailed in the chargesheet. “It is crystal clear that applicant (Mane) is directly involved in the crime of this case along with his co-accused persons and committed offences punishable for the act of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act……kidnapping or abducting for murder, murder of Mansukh Hiran, destruction of evidence… criminal conspiracy…,” the NIA has said.

The reply states that a chargesheet was filed against Mane under relevant sections for these offences. “After examination of the relevant material, the prosecution cannot support the application of the applicant/accused seeking tender of pardon,” the NIA has said, seeking that the application filed by Mane be dismissed at this stage. Mane was arrested in 2021 by the NIA, which claimed that the then Mumbai Police officer had conspired with other accused to murder Hiran, a resident of Thane, who was linked to the SUV which was parked with gelatins near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

Meanwhile, the special court on Thursday sought a report from Sassoon Hospital in Pune on the health status of retired policeman Pradeep Sharma, who is admitted there, and the reason behind his admission.

Sharma, who was also arrested by the NIA in 2021, was shifted to Yerwada Central Prison from Mumbai last year. The prison sent a report to the special court stating that Sharma has been admitted to Sassoon Hospital.

The NIA, through its prosecutor, sought a heath report on Sharma. On January 27, the special court had directed that Sharma be discharged from the hospital where he was lodged for a few months and be taken back to Yerwada jail, after a report by a medical board constituted by the court said that further hospitalisation was not needed.