Bombay HC questions Sachin Waze's luxury cars, hotel stay in Antilia case

The Bombay High Court questioned Sachin Waze's use of luxury cars and a long Oberoi stay during the NIA's bail challenge. The judges indicated these details could bear on extortion allegations and the wider issue of police integrity.Mumbai,Oct 8, 2026 16:48 ISTThe Bombay High Court on Thursday raised questions over former assistant police inspector Sachin Waze's use of high-end cars and his stay at a luxury hotel while hearing the National Investigation Agency's appeal against an order granting him bail in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and businessman Mansukh Hiran murder case.A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said that when a crime is attributed to a person in police uniform, issues such as integrity and conduct also need to be examined. The court has already granted an interim stay on the bail order, and Waze remains lodged in Thane Central Jail.During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, read out witness statements which said Waze used to drive cars such as a Mercedes and a BMW. The court then asked how an officer of the rank of assistant police inspector could afford such vehicles. “This person, being the rank of an API, drove in a Mercedes to his office which was in the same building as the Commissioner of Police. In fact, he (Waze) even went to Varsha bungalow (Chief Minister's residence) in the Mercedes,” the bench said.The court also questioned Waze's stay at the Oberoi hotel for more than three months. “How has he managed to stay or have a room booked at the Oberoi hotel for 100 days? Is all this possible with the salary of an API? How much does an API rank officer earn per month,” Justice Kulkarni asked. Singh replied that the salary of an API would not be more than Rs 90,000. The bench said these aspects were ultimately linked to the allegations of extortion against Waze. The judges also asked whether the NIA knew where the gelatin sticks found in the bag inside the vehicle parked outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence had been purchased. “Is there any material to show from where the gelatin sticks were purchased? For selling one may need licence and similarly for purchase too licence may be required,” the court said. Singh told the bench that the prosecution did not know where the sticks were procured and added that Waze had not cooperated with the investigation.The court then asked what prejudice would be caused if Waze was released on bail with stringent conditions, given that he has been in custody for over five years. Singh said that for a person like Waze, no condition would be stringent enough, and alleged that he could tamper with witnesses and destroy evidence. “He (Waze) was earlier charged in a fake encounter case. He was a police officer who had the duty of protecting the public. But he himself indulged in criminal activities where he not just tried to instil fear and terror but he murdered a person,” Singh said. He added that the NIA was ready to begin the trial immediately and would examine around 150 witnesses. On February 25, 2021, an SUV carrying explosives was found near Ambani's residence, Antilia, in south Mumbai. Mansukh Hiran, who had been in possession of the SUV before it was allegedly stolen, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on March 5, 2021. Waze was arrested by the NIA on March 13, 2021, in the combined Antilia bomb scare and Hiran killing case. He was later made an accused in a corruption case being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, in which he has been granted bail.The sessions court, while granting bail to Waze on September 29, had said the NIA failed to establish a prima facie case of terrorism against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and that there was no evidence to show that Ambani's family was terrorised by the alleged act. Challenging that order, the NIA told the High Court that the decision was “illegal and bad in law” and that the special court was “totally wrong” in granting relief to a person accused of intending to create terror and of murder. The High Court will continue hearing the matter on October 14, and it has extended the stay on the bail order till then.- Ends