Antilia terror scare, Hiran murder case: HC rejects ex-cop Sunil Mane’s bail plea

Mane, who was a elder inspector, was arrested by NIA along with dismissed constabulary serviceman Sachin Waze and others successful 2021 connected charges of being portion of the conspiracy to works explosives successful a conveyance parked adjacent Antilia, the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani connected February 25, 2021 and the consequent execution of Hiran, who was linked to the vehicle, connected March 5, 2021.

A part seat of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan recovered that determination was capable grounds to bespeak Mane’s engagement successful the execution and determination was a anticipation of him tampering with witnesses, truthful helium cannot beryllium released connected bail.

Senior advocator Ashok Mundargi for Mane argued that determination was nary iota of grounds showing the appellant being a subordinate of immoderate transgression conspiracy and simply gathering different officers would not magnitude to the same, successful lack of immoderate corroborating condition to amusement the said meetings were arranged to hatch conspiracy.

The bench, aft perusing worldly connected grounds observed that the probe successful respect of a menace enactment connected a ‘Telegram’ transmission pursuing the incidental was inactive successful advancement and probe connected further grounds nether conception 173 (8) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was underway.

“We anticipation and spot that the NIA volition instrumentality the said probe to its logical extremity expeditiously and guarantee that justness is done to the deceased’s family,” the seat noted.

It added that the statements witnesses “would prima facie constituent retired arsenic to however the mode successful which a preplanned and larger conspiracy was hatched to destruct deceased Mansukh Hiran”.

“Prima facie, determination is capable worldly to bespeak engagement and complicity of the appellant successful the execution of deceased Mansukh Hiran. The anticipation of the appellant being the Police Officer having good connected with higher cops, tampering with the witnesses cannot beryllium ruled out,” the tribunal noted, portion dismissing Mane’s appeal.

Observing that the offences levelled against the appellant including stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were “quite serious”, the seat noted, “It would not astatine each beryllium conscionable and due to merchandise the appellant connected bail, which would frustrate the trial. It is besides pertinent to enactment that the appellant had tendered pardon successful his ain handwriting earlier the Special Court, NIA, Mumbai thereby expressly admitting his guilt.”

Three including retired ACP Pradeep Sharma, dismissed adjunct inspector Riyazuddin Kazi and Naresh Gaur are presently retired connected bail. The proceedings successful the lawsuit is yet to begin.