A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Mumbai has rejected former police officer Sachin Hindurao Waze's application seeking discharge from the high-profile Antilia explosives and Mansukh Hiran murder case. The court held that the prosecution had placed sufficient material on record to raise a prima facie case and that the evidence would have to be tested during the trial, not at the stage of considering discharge.
Background of the Case
The prosecution case stems from three interconnected incidents. The first related to the alleged theft of businessman Mansukh Hiran's Mahindra Scorpio vehicle. Days later, the same vehicle was found parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai with gelatin sticks and a threatening note. Subsequently, Mansukh Hiran was found dead, leading to a separate murder investigation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe considering the gravity and complexity of the matter.
Seeking discharge, Waze argued that the investigation suffered from procedural defects, that there was no reliable scientific evidence directly linking him to the alleged offences, and that provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) had been wrongly invoked. He also questioned the jurisdiction of the Special Court and challenged the validity of the prosecution's sanctions.
The NIA opposed the plea, contending that witness statements, electronic evidence, call detail records, CCTV footage and other material collectively disclosed Waze's alleged role in the conspiracy.
Court's Observations
Special Judge Chakor S. Baviskar observed that the court was not required to conduct a detailed examination of the reliability or admissibility of evidence while deciding a discharge application.
The court said,
"At the time of framing of charge, probative value of the material on record cannot be gone into and the material brought on record by the prosecution has to be accepted as true."
The judge further noted that the prosecution had relied upon statements of numerous witnesses, technical evidence, CCTV footage and electronic records, all of which, at this preliminary stage, were sufficient to disclose a prima facie case against the accused. The court emphasised that questions regarding the truthfulness or weight of the evidence could only be examined during the trial.
The court also took note that Waze had previously sought similar relief before the Special Court as well as the Bombay High Court, and those attempts had not succeeded. It observed that many of the issues raised in the present application had already been considered earlier.
Decision
Rejecting the application, the Special Court concluded that there was more than sufficient material on record to proceed with the case and frame charges against Sachin Waze. The court held that the issues raised by the defence would have to be examined during the trial and not at the discharge stage.
Accordingly, the court dismissed Application Exhibit 527, paving the way for the criminal trial to proceed.
Case Details
Case Title: Sachin Hindurao Waze v. National Investigation Agency
Case Number: Special Case No. 1090 of 2021 (Discharge Application Exh. 527)
Judge: Shri Chakor S. Baviskar
Decision Date: 15 July 2026
