A file picture of dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze being taken to a hospital for check-up, in Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) stayed an order of a court that granted bail to Sachin Vaze in the Antilia bomb scare case and the Mansukh Hiran murder case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had moved the High Court against the bail order. The High Court adjourned the hearing to October 7.
The NIA appeal had reached a bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale after other Judges of the High Court recused themselves. The bench stayed the bail order for the time being and posted the matter for October 7.
The High Court order said the bail order would not operate until a hearing in October.
Earlier, the appeal was listed before a bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Ashish Chavan on Wednesday. Justice Dangre refused to hear the appeal. She cited an order she had passed in a case against Vaze and Anil Deshmukh, Maharashtra’s former Home Minister. She said the matter had links to the case. Justice Chavan also did not hear the matter. He had appeared for the CBI in the Deshmukh case, Justice Dangre said. The bench then passed an order recusing from the appeal.
On Tuesday (September 29, 2026) evening, the NIA appeal was mentioned before a bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale. The bench had the roster to hear the NIA appeal. Justice Kotwal recused from the appeal. He said advocate Manoj Mohite had appeared for Vaze and that he does not hear matters in which Mr. Mohite represents a party. Justice Kotwal had worked with Mr. Mohite during his days as an advocate.
The NIA may mention the appeal before Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, and may request him to set up a bench to hear the appeal.
Published – September 30, 2026 01:14 pm IST
