Dismissed Mumbai cop Sachin Waze’s bail plea rejected in Antilia terror scare case

Waze was arrested on March 13, 2021, by the National Investigation Agency claiming that he was the main conspirator behind the Antilia case and that he had planned it to regain his clout after rejoining the police force after being suspended for 16 years over another case. A threat letter, along with gelatin sticks, was found in an SUV on February 25, 2021, near the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.

In his plea, Waze claimed that he could not even think of committing “such a silly crime”. The NIA, through special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves, opposed the plea stating that the chain of circumstances prima facie pointed an “unerring finger at the role of Sachin Waze as the main conspirator”. The agency also said that as an ex-officer of the crime branch, it would not be difficult for him to figure out who the protected witnesses were and could tamper with the evidence.

It was submitted on Waze’s behalf that there was no evidence of any terror activity or his links to the planting of the gelatin sticks or the threat letter, as no DNA or fingerprint analysis had been included in the chargesheet. The gelatin sticks by themselves do not lead to an explosion and hence there was no intent to cause any explosion, it was further submitted.

Waze’s counsel also said that it could not be ruled out that he had been falsely implicated because of rivalry in the police force. He faces charges including murder and criminal conspiracy under Indian Penal Code sections as well as relevant sections of the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act. Ten people were arrested and three of them, including retired police officer Pradeep Sharma, have got bail.