SC extends interim bail granted to ex-cop Pradeep Sharma in Antilia bomb scare case

Supreme Court extended by two weeks the interim bail of former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, who was arrested in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case and the killing of businessman Mansukh Hiran, in view of his wife’s surgery.

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi, however, said since the interim bail is being extended time and again, this will be the last extension. If the surgery does not happen within this period, the petitioner (Pradeep Sharma) will have to surrender after two weeks. There will not be any more extensions of interim bail, the bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sharma.

Rohatgi said he will surrender if the surgery of his wife is not conducted by then. This time surgery could not be conducted as her blood pressure was not stabilising, he said. The bench said after Sharma’s surrender, the court will take up his plea for regular bail.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for NIA, said Sharma has been seeking extension of interim bail time and again citing various reasons. On June 26, the top court had extended by four weeks the interim bail granted to Sharma. On June 5, the top court had granted three weeks interim bail to Sharma after noting that his wife has to undergo surgery.

On February 25, 2021, an explosives-laden SUV was found near Ambani’s residence Antilia in south Mumbai. Businessman Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on March 5, 2021.