The Bombay High Court granted bail on Tuesday to dismissed police officer Sachin Waze in a corruption case linked to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.
A division bench led by Justice M. S. Sonak ruled in favor of Waze, stating that the specific conditions for bail would be determined by a special Central Bureau of Investigation court.
Despite this bail approval, Waze will remain incarcerated as he is still in judicial custody related to the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case, which is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Waze, who has been in custody since his arrest in March 2021, argued for bail on the grounds that he is an approver in the case and that other co-accused individuals have already been released on bail.
Waze’s attorney, Aabad Ponda, contended that keeping Waze in jail despite his status as an approver violates his fundamental rights.
However, the CBI opposed the bail application, asserting that Waze had not yet provided testimony in the case, and releasing him would not serve the interests of justice.
Waze was declared an approver by a special CBI court in June 2022. His arrest stemmed from his alleged involvement in a case involving an explosives-laden vehicle discovered near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, known as ‘Antilia’, as well as the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.
Previously, the Bombay High Court instructed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into corruption allegations against Deshmukh, which were raised by former police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Following this inquiry, the CBI registered an FIR against Deshmukh, his associates, and Waze. Singh alleged that during Deshmukh’s tenure as home minister, he instructed police personnel to collect ₹100 crore monthly from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.
Singh also claimed that Waze, who had faced suspension over a previous alleged fake encounter case, was reinstated and tasked with collecting money on Deshmukh’s behalf.
Alongside Waze, other accused in the corruption case include Deshmukh’s former aides, Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde, both of whom are currently out on bail.
As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of Waze’s bail and his status as an approver in the ongoing investigations remain significant in unraveling the corruption charges that have sparked considerable public interest.
