Mitali Palnitkar
Published On: February 17, 2022 at 15:37 IST
The Bail Application of former Mumbai policeman and encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma in the Antilia Bomb Scare and Mansukh Hiran Murder Case, was rejected by a Special NIA (National Investigation Agency) Court. Sharma has been in Custody since his Arrest in June 2021.
On February 16, Special Judge AT Wankhede rejected the Bail Application.
As per the Charge-sheet filed by NIA in September 2021, it was alleged that Sharma was assigned with the task of eliminating Hiran, owner of the explosives-laden car which was abandoned in South Mumbai near Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
It was alleged that Sharma was paid a huge amount of cash to do the task by co-accused and former policeman Sachin Waze and executed the killing through his accomplice Santosh Shelar.
In the Charge-sheet, it was revealed that two days before Hiran was killed, Waze called a meeting in which Hiran was present so that other members in the meeting, namely, policeman Sunil Mane and Sharma could see what Hiran looked like.
A green Mahindra Scorpio was found abandoned near Antilia laden with 20 gelatin sticks and a threatening note around a week before the meeting. Waze’s motive behind planting the vehicle was to reclaim credentials as an investigator.
Sharma filed the Bail Application claiming that the allegations in the Charge-sheet were limited to show that he was involved in the conspiracy of Murder of Hiran. He also claimed that the agency did not possess any material to prove his involvement in procuring or planting explosives in the vehicle near Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
NIA claimed that Sharma helped Waze to destroy the evidences and that he was involved in hatching the conspiracy and executing Hiran’s Murder through his men.
Mansukh Hiran was a businessman residing in Thane, who was found dead in a creek in Mumbai on March 5, 2021.