Supreme Court grants bail to dismissed Mumbai police inspector Sunil Mane in Antilla terror scare case

Mane’s lawyers are likely to approach the trial court in Mumbai on Monday, which will set the conditions for his bail as directed by the Supreme Court, following which he is likely to be released on completing bail formalities.
Mane was arrested on April 23, 2021 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

On February 25, an SUV was found parked near the residence of businessman Mukesh Ambani, planted with gelatin sticks and a threat letter. On March 5, the police found the body of a man, Thane-resident Mansukh Hiran, who was linked to the SUV. The NIA arrested Mane on allegations that he was part of the conspiracy to murder Hiran. It was alleged that on March 2, 2021, Mane was present in a conspiracy meeting along with accused dismissed cop Sachin Waze and retired ACP Pradeep Sharma, where Hiran was also present. It was claimed that Mane was given the details of the car in which Hiran was to be handed over to the alleged killers on the day of the murder. The NIA had claimed that it was Mane who had called Hiran posing as one inspector Tawade and had asked him to come to a spot, driving him at a distance till he was transferred to another car, where he was subsequently murdered allegedly by four other accused. Mane had denied these allegations claiming that he is nowhere linked to the planting of gelatin sticks and there was no evidence that he is involved in Hiran’s murder.

After the Bombay High Court rejected his bail plea in November 2023, he had approached the Supreme Court.
“Needless to say, the petitioner shall cooperate in the ongoing trial and shall not seek any unnecessary adjournments before the trial court and in the event of any violation to the conditions of bail, the prosecution will be entitled to apply for cancellation of bail,” the Supreme Court said.

Ten accused including three serving police officials were arrested in the case, with the NIA claiming that dismissed cop Sachin Waze is the main accused in the case. Waze is currently in jail. The trial is yet to begin.