Bombay HC stays Sachin Waze bail in Antilia bomb scare case

The Bombay High Court on 30 September stayed the bail granted to former police officer Sachin Waze in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, Bar and Bench, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express and others reported. A division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale granted an ad-interim stay after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) appealed, arguing the special court's order was 'erroneous and illegal'. The court issued notice to Waze and listed the matter for 7 October.

The stay came after two earlier benches recused themselves. A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and RR Bhonsale recused on 29 September, followed by Justices Bharati Dangre and Ashish Chavan on 30 September. Waze, who has spent 1,999 days in custody, remains in Thane Central Prison as bail formalities were incomplete when the stay was issued.

On 29 September, special judge Chakor S Baviskar had granted Waze bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, ruling the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case of terrorism under the UAPA. The court noted that the Ambani family's day-to-day business was not disturbed and that gelatin sticks lacked detonators. The NIA argued that the special court ignored the rigours of UAPA Section 43 D and that Waze's role was 'central' to the terror crime.

Update, 2 October 2026: The Bombay High Court on 30 September stayed the bail granted to Sachin Waze by a special NIA court, Bar and Bench, Hindustan Times and Times of India reported. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale granted an ad-interim stay and listed the NIA's appeal for 7 October. Two earlier benches had recused themselves.