'Antilia' bomb scare case: HC grants bail to dismissed policeman Riyazuddin Kazi
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to dismissed policeman Riyazuddin Kazi, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case.
Kazi, who had closely worked with accused policeman Sachin Waze, was posted with the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch when a gelatin sticks-laden Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was found parked near 'Antilia', industrialist Mukesh Ambani's official residence in south Mumbai.
In his bail plea filed through advocate Hasnain Kazi, the former policeman said he was not charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the charges against him were bailable.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, had submitted that there was no evidence of Kazi's involvement in the planting of gelatin sticks in the SUV near 'Antilia' or of him being involved in Hiran's murder.
The evidence against him was of collecting crucial evidence, that of DVR of CCTV, without making official records like sealing and 'panchanama', and of destroying them, Singh had said.
After hearing both sides, the court granted bail to the accused. A detailed order about this decision is not available yet.
Kazi's role came to light after Waze was arrested on March 13 last year. He is accused of destroying evidence pertaining to the case.
Apart from Kazi and Waze, other accused in the case include former 'encounter specialist' police officer Pradeep Sharma and former policemen Vinayak Shinde and Sunil Mane.
An explosives-laden SUV was found near Ambani's house in south Mumbai on February 25 last year, and Hiran, who had claimed that he was in possession of the SUV before it was stolen, was found dead in a creek in Thane some days later on March 5.
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Udupi: Two men from Belthangady awarded life imprisonment for attempt to murder a woman in 2022
Udupi: Two men from Belthangady have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Udupi for attempting to murder a woman in Manchikumeri in 2022.
The sentenced men, Mithun and Nagesh Poojary, are learned to have attempted to murder Sumathi, wife of Ramanath Rai, a resident of Manchikumeri, who had a Nandini Milk Parlour at Tiger Circle, Manipal.
On February 18, 2022, Sumathi was reportedly alone at home when, at around 7 pm, Mithun, learned to be her nephew, and his friend Poojary came to the house. As Sumathi opened the door, the duo barged in and tried to strangulate her with an intention of murdering her. Sumathi reportedly lost consciousness under the attack.
The men packed her body in a sack and were then putting the sack into a suitcase to carry the body out, when they noticed that Rai and neighbours had arrived. They are learned to have opened the door when Rai knocked the door and then tried to escape. They were, however, caught by the neighbours and handed over to the police.
Further, Sumathi was found by the group in an unconscious state inside the suitcase in the house. She was rushed to the Manipal Hospital and learned to have recovered after a week of medical treatment.
A case had been registered at the Manipal Police Station.
The Udupi Principal District and Sessions Court judge Kiran S Gangannavar, who heard the case, has declared both Mithun and Poojary guilty in the case. He has awarded them life imprisonment, fined them Rs 20,000 each and, under Column 325, sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment of 5 years and fined them Rs 5,000 each.
Judge Gangannavar has directed that, of the fine, Rs 45,000 be handed to the attack victim Sumathi as relief.
Jayarama Shetty represented the government as Public Prosecutor.
