The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim bail of former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma by two weeks. Pradeep Sharma was arrested for planting explosives in a vehicle outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ and in the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren.
The court passed the order keeping in view the surgery of Sharma’s wife. However, a bench of Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Bela M Trivedi said that the interim bail is being extended once again and this extension is for the last time. The bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sharma, “If the surgery is not done within this period, the petitioner (Pradeep Sharma) will have to surrender after two weeks.” No further extension will be given in the interim bail. Rohgati said he would surrender if his wife’s surgery was not done by then.
The surgery could not be done this time as his blood pressure was not stabilising, he said. The bench said that after Sharma surrenders, the court will take up his plea for regular bail. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said Sharma was repeatedly seeking extension of interim bail citing various reasons. The apex court had on June 26 extended the interim bail granted to Sharma by four weeks. On June 5, the Supreme Court had granted Sharma interim bail for three weeks.
Explosive material was found in an SUV car on February 25, 2021, near ‘Antilia’ in South Mumbai. The SUV belonged to businessman Mansukh Hiren who was found dead on March 5, 2021 in a drain in Thane. There are allegations against Pradeep Sharma that he helped his former associate Sachin Vajhe in Hiren’s murder.