Supreme Court grants bail to ex-Mumbai cop in Antilia bomb scare case

"We have allowed the appeal and granted the accused (Pradeep Sharma) bail," the bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice A S Bopanna, said in its order on Wednesday.

The accused, Sharma, was arrested in June 2021 for his alleged involvement in the Antilia bomb scare and the killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

Senior advocate and former Attorney General (AG) of India Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sharma, told the Apex Court that the only allegation against him was that he had helped his former colleague Sachin Waze eliminate Hiran.

Rohatgi submitted that Sharma was a decorated police officer who retired after 37 years of service.

On February 25, 2021, an explosives-laden SUV was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence, 'Antilia, in south Mumbai.

On June 5, this year, Sharma was given interim bail to meet his ailing wife for three weeks, and he surrendered after that.

Businessman Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on March 5, 2021.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Sharma's appeal against a Bombay High Court order denying him bail.

Sharma, along with other accused, including dismissed Mumbai cop Sachin Waze, are accused of conspiring to place an explosive-laden SUV near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.