The Supreme Court refused to interfere with proceedings against former Mumbai police officer Pradeep Sharma in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiren murder case, dismissing his appeal against the Bombay High Court order rejecting discharge from criminal conspiracy charges linked to the high-profile 2021 investigation.
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with proceedings against former Mumbai police officer Pradeep Sharma in the high-profile 2021 Antilia bomb scare and the subsequent murder case of businessman Mansukh Hiren, dealing a setback to Sharma’s attempt to secure discharge from the criminal case.
A Bench of the apex court dismissed Sharma’s appeal challenging an earlier order of the Bombay High Court, which had rejected his plea seeking discharge from the charges framed against him in connection with the alleged conspiracy. The Supreme Court found no reason to interfere with the High Court’s findings at this stage of the proceedings.
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The case arises out of the sensational discovery of an explosives-laden Scorpio vehicle near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, known as Antilia, in February 2021. The incident triggered a massive national controversy and led to an extensive probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Soon after the recovery of the vehicle, its owner, businessman Mansukh Hiren, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a creek near Mumbai. Investigators later alleged that the death was not accidental and was linked to a larger criminal conspiracy surrounding the bomb scare.
According to the NIA, former police officer Sachin Waze played a central role in orchestrating the conspiracy, and Pradeep Sharma was allegedly involved in the subsequent events that led to Hiren’s murder. The agency claimed that Sharma and other accused persons acted in coordination as part of a planned conspiracy.
Before the Supreme Court, counsel appearing for Sharma argued that he had been falsely implicated and that his professional association with Sachin Waze had been wrongly interpreted as evidence of criminal involvement. It was contended that there was insufficient material to proceed against him and that the prosecution’s case was based largely on assumptions.
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However, the apex court was not persuaded by the submissions. It upheld the earlier findings that sufficient material existed on record at the current stage to continue the criminal proceedings against Sharma. The Court agreed with the view that the allegations and evidence collected during the investigation warranted a full trial rather than discharge at the threshold.
The Bombay High Court had earlier refused to discharge Sharma after examining the chargesheet and material placed on record by the NIA. The High Court had observed that the prosecution had prima facie established links suggesting Sharma’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy.
The NIA has maintained that the conspiracy surrounding the Antilia scare was aimed at creating fear and manipulating the security narrative in Mumbai. The agency further alleged that the murder of Mansukh Hiren was carried out to eliminate a key link connected to the vehicle used in the case.
Although Sharma had previously secured bail in the matter, the criminal proceedings against him continue. The Supreme Court’s refusal to discharge him means that he will now continue to face trial along with the other accused persons in one of the most closely watched criminal investigations in recent years.
The Antilia bomb scare case had triggered widespread scrutiny of sections of the Mumbai Police and led to multiple arrests, investigations, and political controversy, particularly because of the involvement of serving and former police officials.
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