Debate With Arnab: Is NIA Going Cold On Pursuit Of Tainted Cop Sachin Vaze?

On September 29, a special NIA court in Mumbai granted bail to dismissed cop Sachin Vaze in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case. The court ruled that a prima facie case of terrorism under the UAPA was not made out. Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar noted that the gelatin sticks found in the SUV had no detonators. He also said that five to six years on, the NIA had not recorded the statement of a single Ambani family member, and asked which "Muhurat" the agency was waiting for.

The NIA has challenged the order, calling Vaze the "main accused" whose role was central to the alleged terror plot. On September 30, the Bombay High Court stayed his bail, and the matter will be heard on October 7. The agency told the High Court it had recorded statements from three people in charge of the Ambani family's security.

Republic puts 10 questions to the NIA: Was this a cover-up by the prosecution? Did the agency play down Mansukh Hiran's murder? And why the go-slow at a time when Vaze's role in the Disha Salian case is in focus?