Antilia bomb scare case: Why Sachin Vaze’s bail lasted a day | Explained

The Story So Far: Sachin Vaze, accused of conspiring in the placement of explosives near the Ambani home and in the murder of Mansukh Hiran in 2021, received bail on Tuesday (September 29, 2026). The Bombay High Court stayed the order on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).

Sachin Vaze, the former police officer accused in the Antilia bomb scare and the murder of Mansukh Hiran, received bail from a Mumbai court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026). The Bombay High Court paused that order on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), and Mr. Vaze remains in Thane Central Prison.

The stay will remain in force until October 7, when a bench will hear the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) appeal. The hearing will test the agency’s claim that Mr. Vaze’s acts in 2021 amount to terrorism.

What did the High Court order on September 30?

A Bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale stayed the bail order until the hearing on October 7. The Bench also asked the State government’s lawyer to inform the jail authorities, so that Mr. Vaze is not released in the meantime.

The Bench gave a reason for the pause. Mr. Vaze’s lawyers had appeared before the earlier Bench on the NIA’s notice, but no lawyer appeared for him on Wednesday (September 30, 2026). The judges said they were “inclined to grant an ad-interim stay” until the adjourned date and adjourned the hearing.

Was bail refused, then?

No. The Court has not decided whether Mr. Vaze deserves bail. The Special Court granted it, and the High Court suspended the effect of that grant while it examines the NIA’s challenge. If the High Court dismisses the appeal on October 7, the bail order revives. If it allows the appeal, the order is set aside.

Why did the appeal take a day to find a Bench?

The NIA moved the High Court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) evening, and the appeal went through a series of recusals. Justice Sarang Kotwal, who had the roster to hear it, stepped aside on Tuesday (September 29, 2026). He said advocate Manoj Mohite had appeared for Mr. Vaze, and that he does not hear matters in which Mr. Mohite represents a party, as the two had worked together when Justice Kotwal practised as an advocate.