CBI opposes ex-cop Sachin Waze’s bail plea in extortion case

Last month, Waze had filed for bail under section 436 A of the Criminal Procedure Code, which has provisions for release of an undertrial who has been detained in jail for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that offence.

Waze’s bail plea had said he faces a maximum of three years in jail under the sections he has been booked under and as he has been in jail since 2021, and hence he can be released. The CBI said that provisions of section 436A will not apply on Waze since he faces a maximum of 10 years in jail if convicted.

Waze and three others including former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh were named in an extortion complaint by a businessman.

While two of the accused were arrested and granted bail, Singh was not arrested. Singh appeared before the court in May as summons were issued to him after a chargesheet was filed by the Mumbai police. He was then granted bail.

In May, the CBI had moved a plea before the court seeking to put the trial on hold stating that its probe is still on. Waze had also taken the ground for his bail that this means that the trial is not likely to commence soon and he should be considered for bail.

The court is likely to decide on Waze’s plea later this month.

Waze is also in judicial custody in connection with the Antilia terror scare case and Mansukh Hiran murder case.