Antilia bomb scare case: Court frames anti-terror charges against Sachin Waze, 9 others

A special court in Mumbai on Saturday formally charged ten individuals, including former police officers Sachin Waze and Sunil Mane, with anti-terror and murder offenses related to the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and subsequent killing of Mansukh Hiran. The charges were filed more than five years after the incident, marking a critical step toward the commencement of the trial. The accused, including dismissed officers, were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. All ten defendants pleaded not guilty during the proceedings. The case traces back to February 25, 2021, when an SUV containing explosives was discovered near Antilia, the residence of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani in south Mumbai. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later alleged that the vehicle was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at intimidating affluent individuals and extorting money through threats. According to the prosecution, the vehicle owner, Mansukh Hiran, was killed on March 4, 2021, because he was aware of the plot and posed a risk of exposing it. The NIA claims that the accused, including Waze, Mane, and Pradeep Sharma, conspired to eliminate Hiran due to his knowledge of the operation. Among the accused, Sachin Waze, a former police officer, was identified as the mastermind behind the conspiracy. The NIA stated that Waze orchestrated the placement of the explosive-laden vehicle near Antilia and coordinated a threat via a Telegram channel linked to the terrorist group Jaish-ul-Hind. This action, according to the agency, was intended to instill fear among the wealthy and serve as a tool for extortion. The prosecution further alleges that Waze, along with Mane, Sharma, Santosh Shelar, Anand Jadhav, Satish Mothkuri, and Manish Soni, formed a criminal network that led to Hiran’s death. They claim that Hiran was abducted and killed to prevent him from revealing the conspiracy. Riyazuddin Kazi, another dismissed police officer, is accused of destroying evidence related to the case. Naresh Gaur, meanwhile, is charged with supplying five SIM cards, one of which was reportedly used in Hiran’s murder. The charges include both murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism, with the potential for the death penalty as the maximum punishment. The court has scheduled the next hearing to determine whether the charges can proceed to trial. The case has drawn attention due to its high-profile nature and the involvement of former law enforcement personnel. The prosecution argues that the actions of the accused directly contributed to a terrorist act, while the defense has yet to present their arguments. Legal experts suggest that the charges reflect the seriousness with which authorities view the incident, given its proximity to a prominent target and the alleged coordination with a known militant group. As the legal process moves forward, the focus will remain on the evidence presented by the prosecution and the responses from the accused. The trial is expected to shed light on the extent of the conspiracy and the roles played by each individual involved. The outcome could set a precedent for similar cases involving terrorism and organized crime.