Bombay HC flags Sachin Vaze's Mercedes fleet, 100-day Oberoi stay in Antilia case
Synopsis
The Bombay High Court laid bare a striking detail at the heart of the Antilia bomb-scare case: suspended cop Sachin Vaze — earning ₹90,000 a month — reportedly owned five luxury vehicles, including multiple Mercedes, and spent 100 days at the Oberoi Hotel. The NIA says it is all linked to alleged extortion.
Key Takeaways
The Bombay High Court on 8 October expressed surprise at Sachin Vaze's luxury lifestyle during his tenure as Assistant Police Inspector .
Vaze reportedly used five high-end vehicles , including a white BMW , a black Volvo , a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado , and two Mercedes cars .
He allegedly stayed approximately 100 days at the Oberoi Hotel in South Mumbai on a monthly salary of around ₹90,000 .
The NIA linked the vehicles and hotel stay to alleged extortion , arguing Vaze poses a risk of witness tampering if released.
The High Court had stayed Vaze's 29 September bail order; he remains in judicial custody for more than five years .
The Antilia case dates to February 2021 , when an explosives-laden SUV was recovered near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai residence.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday, 8 October expressed sharp surprise at the lavish lifestyle of former Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze — including a fleet of luxury vehicles and a prolonged stay at a five-star hotel — while hearing the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) appeal against a special court's bail order in the 2021 Antilia bomb-scare case and the Mansukh Hiran murder case.
The Luxury Fleet That Caught the Court's Attention
A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale reviewed a list of five vehicles Vaze reportedly used while serving as an Assistant Police Inspector — a rank that carries a monthly salary of approximately ₹90,000. The list included a white BMW, a black Volvo, a white Mercedes, a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, and a black Mercedes.
On seeing the list, the bench remarked: 'He (Sachin Vaze) owns five vehicles...' The court had earlier observed: 'Since we have not yet seen an Assistant Police Inspector driving a Mercedes...' — underlining the incongruity between Vaze's official pay grade and his apparent assets.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, read out a witness statement alleging that Vaze travelled in a black Mercedes and directed those accompanying him to switch off their mobile phones. The court confirmed with the NIA that the Mercedes was registered in Vaze's name.
The Oberoi Hotel Stay and Alleged Extortion Links
The bench also questioned Vaze's extended stay of approximately 100 days in a room at the Oberoi Hotel in South Mumbai — a property described in proceedings as a seven-star establishment. The court asked how a police officer earning around ₹90,000 a month could sustain such an expensive lifestyle.
The NIA told the court that the vehicles and the hotel stay are being linked to alleged extortion as part of the broader charges against Vaze. The court noted that these aspects of Vaze's financial situation, conduct, and professional record are directly relevant to assessing the charges he faces.
Background: The Antilia Case and NIA's Appeal
Vaze is an accused in the Antilia bomb-scare case, which dates to February 2021, when an SUV laden with explosives was recovered near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. He is also accused in the connected Mansukh Hiran murder case, in which the man linked to the vehicle was found dead.
Vaze has been in custody for more than five years. A special court granted him bail on 29 September with stringent conditions, partly citing the duration of his detention. The NIA challenged that order before the Bombay High Court, which last week granted an interim stay on the bail — keeping Vaze in judicial custody.
The NIA's lawyer argued that releasing Vaze would risk witness tampering and evidence destruction. Singh told the court: 'He (Vaze) was earlier charged in a fake encounter case. He was a police officer who had the duty of protecting the public. But he himself indulged in criminal activities where he not just tried to instil fear and terror but he murdered a person.'
What the Court Said About the Charges
The High Court stated that Vaze's lifestyle details — the luxury vehicles, the prolonged hotel stay, and his movements to sensitive locations including the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's residence 'Varsha' — are material to evaluating the gravity of the charges against him. The court also sought further information from the NIA on the full range of vehicles Vaze used during his service.
The matter is expected to be heard further in the coming days, with the NIA's appeal still pending final disposal before the bench.
Point of View
000 salary — is not merely sensational colour; it is the prosecution's principal argument for motive and means. The NIA's challenge to bail also raises a structural question that courts across India grapple with: when does the duration of pre-trial detention, however lengthy, begin to outweigh flight and tampering risk? At five-plus years, Vaze's case is pushing at that boundary, and the final bail ruling will have implications beyond this one accused.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Antilia bomb-scare case involving Sachin Vaze?
The Antilia bomb-scare case stems from February 2021, when an SUV loaded with explosives was found parked near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai residence 'Antilia'. Former Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was arrested in connection with the incident and is also accused in the linked Mansukh Hiran murder case, where the man associated with the vehicle was found dead.
Why did the Bombay High Court express surprise at Sachin Vaze's lifestyle?
The court was shown evidence that Vaze, while earning a monthly salary of around ₹90,000 as an Assistant Police Inspector, reportedly owned five luxury vehicles — including multiple Mercedes cars and a BMW — and stayed at the Oberoi Hotel in South Mumbai for approximately 100 days. The bench questioned how an officer of that rank could afford such an expensive lifestyle.
Why is the NIA opposing Sachin Vaze's bail?
The NIA argues that releasing Vaze poses a significant risk of witness tampering and destruction of evidence. It also cited his alleged history of criminal conduct, including a prior fake encounter case, and contended that the luxury vehicles and hotel stays are linked to alleged extortion.
What happened with Vaze's bail in the Antilia case?
A special court granted Vaze bail on 29 September, citing in part that he had been in custody for more than five years. The NIA challenged the order in the Bombay High Court, which granted an interim stay last week, keeping Vaze in judicial custody pending final hearing of the appeal.
Which vehicles were listed as used by Sachin Vaze?
According to the NIA's submission to the Bombay High Court, Vaze used five high-end vehicles during his tenure as Assistant Police Inspector: a white BMW, a black Volvo, a white Mercedes, a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, and a black Mercedes. The NIA says these vehicles are connected to alleged extortion.
