Antilia Case: SC Dismisses Ex-IPS Officer’s Plea
Apex court declines discharge request, says trial should proceed on existing evidence
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea by former IPS officer Pradeep Rameshwar Sharma challenging a High Court order that rejected his discharge application in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare case and the subsequent murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren.
A two-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sharma, that while bail or anticipatory bail could be considered, discharge at this stage was not warranted.
"I have known him (Waze) since I was in force but I am nowhere involved in the murder of Mansukh Hiren," Rohatgi submitted on behalf of Sharma.
The court said it was not inclined to interfere with the High Court order. On March 10, the High Court had dismissed Sharma’s appeal against the rejection of his discharge plea by a special NIA court in Mumbai.
The trial court, in February 2025, had rejected his plea to drop proceedings, citing circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime.
The National Investigation Agency opposed Sharma’s plea, alleging that he conspired with the prime accused, former police officer Sachin Waze, to eliminate Hiren. It also said the explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ in south Mumbai on February 25, 2021 was a stolen vehicle belonging to Hiren.
Sharma contended that he was not an accused in the alleged vehicle theft or bomb scare cases and was arrested on June 17, 2021 only in connection with the murder case.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted him bail on August 23, 2023.
