Mumbai, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Mumbai on Tuesday granted bail to former police officer Sachin Vaze in the 2021 Antilia bomb-scare case, while restricting his entry into five districts, including Mumbai and Thane, until key witnesses have recorded their statements.
Special Judge Chakor S. Baviskar granted bail to Vaze on a personal bond and surety of ₹1 lakh each. The court also directed him to surrender his passport, a lawyer said.
The court observed that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case of terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Vaze. It also noted that the gelatin sticks found in a vehicle parked near Antilia, the Mumbai residence of a prominent industrialist, were not accompanied by detonators and did not prima facie constitute a direct terrorist act or a threat to the country’s economic security.
The court further noted that no statement had been recorded from any victim or family member residing at Antilia.
As part of the bail conditions, Vaze has been barred from entering the jurisdictions of Brihanmumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts until the statements of key witnesses are recorded.
The former Assistant Police Inspector (API) has also been directed to provide his location details or the address of his proposed residence outside these districts within seven days of the order. He must report to his local police station every Sunday between noon and 3 p.m. and share his location with the NIA or police through calls or video calls.
The court accepted Vaze’s plea for bail on the ground of parity with other accused who had already secured similar relief. His lawyers had argued that co-accused Pradeep Sharma and Sunil Mane had been granted bail by the Supreme Court and the High Court, respectively, and that Vaze should be extended the same relief.
Vaze has been in custody since March 13, 2021. His lawyer argued that the trial was unlikely to conclude soon, given the scale of the case, which involves 320 witnesses and a chargesheet running to more than 14,000 pages.
Vaze is also a suspect in the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, whose SUV was allegedly used in the Antilia bomb-scare incident.
According to the NIA, an SUV carrying explosives and a threat letter was found parked near the multi-storey Antilia building in south Mumbai on February 25, 2021. Hiran, who claimed that the SUV had been stolen from his possession, was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5 that year. Vaze was arrested in the case a few days later.
The NIA has alleged that Vaze was involved in parking the SUV with the intention of terrorising wealthy individuals and extorting money.
On August 1, 2026, the Special NIA Court framed charges against Vaze and nine others, paving the way for their trial under provisions of the UAPA and for murder.
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