Antilia terror scare, Hiran murder case: HC rejects ex-cop Sunil Mane’s bail plea

Mane, who was a senior inspector, was arrested by NIA along with dismissed police officer Sachin Waze and others in 2021 on charges of being part of the conspiracy to plant explosives in a vehicle parked near Antilia, the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on February 25, 2021 and the subsequent murder of Hiran, who was linked to the vehicle, on March 5, 2021.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan found that there was sufficient evidence to indicate Mane’s involvement in the murder and there was a possibility of him tampering with witnesses, therefore he cannot be released on bail.

Senior advocate Ashok Mundargi for Mane argued that there was no iota of evidence showing the appellant being a member of any criminal conspiracy and merely meeting other officers would not amount to the same, in absence of any corroborating circumstance to show the said meetings were arranged to hatch conspiracy.

The bench, after perusing material on record observed that the probe in respect of a threat note on a ‘Telegram’ channel following the incident was still in progress and investigation on further evidence under section 173 (8) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was underway.

“We hope and trust that the NIA will take the said investigation to its logical end expeditiously and ensure that justice is done to the deceased’s family,” the bench noted.

It added that the statements witnesses “would prima facie point out as to how the manner in which a preplanned and larger conspiracy was hatched to eliminate deceased Mansukh Hiran”.

“Prima facie, there is sufficient material to indicate involvement and complicity of the appellant in the murder of deceased Mansukh Hiran. The possibility of the appellant being the Police Officer having well connected with higher cops, tampering with the witnesses cannot be ruled out,” the court noted, while dismissing Mane’s appeal.

Observing that the offences levelled against the appellant including stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were “quite serious”, the bench noted, “It would not at all be just and proper to release the appellant on bail, which would frustrate the trial. It is also pertinent to note that the appellant had tendered pardon in his own handwriting before the Special Court, NIA, Mumbai thereby expressly admitting his guilt.”

Three including retired ACP Pradeep Sharma, dismissed assistant inspector Riyazuddin Kazi and Naresh Gaur are currently out on bail. The trial in the case is yet to begin.