Antilia bomb case: Trial set for 10 accused including ex‑officer Sachin Vaze

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai has formally charged ten people, among them former police officer Sachin Vaze and former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code sections for terrorism and murder. The trial will now commence. The charges relate to the February 2021 discovery of explosives in a Scorpio SUV parked outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia residence and the subsequent killing of businessman Mansukh Hiren in early March 2021. NIA investigators allege Vaze masterminded a plot to instill fear among wealthy individuals and extort money, and that Hiren was eliminated because he was deemed a weak link who might expose the scheme. All accused have denied the allegations and face up to the death penalty.