In a pivotal development in the Antilia bomb scare case, the Supreme Court has granted bail to former ‘encounter specialist‘ Pradeep Sharma, who was implicated in both the Antilia bomb scare and the Mansukh Hiran murder cases. The decision was pronounced by a bench consisting of Justices AS Bopanna and PS Narasimha. Justice Bopanna stated in court,
“We allow the appeal and grant bail to the appellant.”
The backdrop of the case traces back to February 25, 2021, when an SUV packed with explosives was discovered near Antilia, the opulent residence of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. A mere ten days later, the body of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the owner of the aforementioned Scorpio vehicle, was found in Thane creek. Hiran had previously reported the vehicle as missing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took charge of the investigation in April 2021. Subsequently, then-API Sachin Waze, who was at the forefront of the initial investigation, was detained, along with nine others, including Sharma. The NIA’s stance was that Sharma had allegedly assisted Waze in obliterating evidence pertinent to the case. Furthermore, Sharma was accused of being deeply entrenched in the conspiracy and the subsequent execution of Hiran’s murder with the assistance of his associates.
Sharma faced charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2002. Since his arrest by the NIA, he has been in custody. In February 2022, a special NIA court dismissed Sharma’s bail application. Sharma’s defense was that the allegations against him were confined to his purported involvement in the conspiracy surrounding Mansukh Hiran’s murder. He also contended that the NIA lacked substantial evidence to prove his involvement in planting explosives near Mukesh Ambani’s residence. However, Special Judge AT Wankhede was unconvinced by these arguments.
In a contrasting move, the Bombay High Court granted bail to co-accused Riyazuddin Kazi. However, Sharma’s bail plea was denied by a bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and RN Laddha in January of this year. The Bombay High Court, despite rejecting Sharma’s bail plea, expressed concerns over the NIA’s investigation. The High Court, after examining the evidence, did not find conclusive proof in the NIA’s chargesheet that linked Sharma to the planting of the explosives outside Antilia. The court believed that the NIA’s investigation into the bomb scare case lacked depth. Nevertheless, Sharma’s bail plea was turned down as the High Court found evidence suggesting Sharma’s involvement in Hiren’s murder.
In June, a vacation bench led by Justice Aniruddha Bose granted Sharma a three-week interim bail to visit his ailing wife, which was subsequently extended by two weeks.
This case has garnered significant attention, shedding light on the complexities surrounding the Antilia bomb scare and the subsequent events that unfolded. The Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Sharma is a significant turn in this high-profile case.