THE Bombay High Court on Friday questioned if dismissed cop Sachin Waze, accused in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare-businessman Mansukh Hiren murder case, would rejoin service if released on bail. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale reserved its order on the appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the bail granted to Waze in the case by a special court last month. The NIA had moved HC immediately after he got bail, seeking an urgent stay. The HC had granted interim stay, due to which Waze continues to remain lodged at Thane Central Prison.

 

On Friday, while hearing arguments of additional solicitor general Anil Singh appearing for NIA and Waze’s lawyer V M Thorat, the bench noted that before Waze was reinstated in service in 2020, he was suspended for 17 years as he was accused in a custodial death case. “If bail is granted, will he be joining service,” the HC questioned. In response, Thorat said it was not possible since Waze has been terminated from service after his arrest in these two cases. The HC also asked the NIA as to how the case fell within the category of a terrorist act. “Why is this a terrorist act? Only because there were explosives? How do you connect these explosives to Waze,” the High court asked.