The Bombay High Court has granted bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze in a corruption case involving former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. However, Waze will remain in jail due to his ongoing judicial custody in the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case. Conditions for bail will be set by the special CBI court.
Mumbai: Today, on October 22nd, the Bombay High Court granted bail to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze in a corruption case that also involves former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. A division bench headed by Justice M S Sonak granted bail to Waze, while leaving it to the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court to set the conditions for his release.
However, Sachin Waze will remain in jail as he is currently in judicial custody in connection with the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case, which was filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Waze, a former Mumbai police officer, had been arrested in relation to an explosives-laden vehicle found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence and the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.
Waze, who is currently in judicial custody, had moved for bail citing his status as an approver in the corruption case, and on grounds of parity, given that other accused individuals in the same case had already been granted bail. Waze’s counsel, Aabad Ponda, argued that keeping him in jail after he was declared an approver violates his fundamental rights.
The CBI, however, opposed Waze’s bail plea, arguing that he had not yet deposed in the case, and that his release would not serve the interests of the ongoing investigation. Waze was declared an approver by the special CBI court in June 2022.
The ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case, which is separate from the corruption case, saw Waze’s arrest in March 2021. In that case, Waze is accused of involvement in planting an explosives-laden vehicle near Ambani’s residence in south Mumbai, as well as the subsequent murder of Mansukh Hiran. This case has kept Waze in custody even after his bail was granted in the corruption case.
The corruption case came to light when the Bombay High Court, in April 2021, directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of corruption and abuse of official power by then home minister Anil Deshmukh. These allegations were brought forward by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.
According to Singh, Deshmukh had allegedly instructed police officers, including Waze, to collect ₹100 crore per month from bars and restaurants across Mumbai. Singh’s allegations also included claims that Waze, who had been reinstated despite earlier accusations in a fake encounter case, was involved in this collection process on Deshmukh’s behalf.
The CBI’s preliminary inquiry led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Deshmukh, his associates, and Waze. The other accused in the case, Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde, who are former aides of Deshmukh, have already been granted bail and are no longer in custody.
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Waze’s legal team had emphasized that the former officer’s situation was comparable to that of other accused in the case, who had all been released. As a result, his prolonged detention raised concerns about parity and potential violations of his fundamental rights.
Despite the Bombay High Court granting him bail, Waze’s immediate release will depend on the conditions set by the special CBI court. His involvement in the high-profile ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case, however, ensures that his time in custody is far from over, as the NIA case progresses.
As of now, the spotlight remains on the development of both cases and the actions of the special CBI court, which will dictate the terms of Waze’s release in the corruption case. The outcome of his pending legal battles, particularly concerning the ‘Antilia’ case, will continue to unfold in the months to come.
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