Mumbai: An accused in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case submitted a plea before the special trial court on Saturday, alleging he was instructed by an NIA official to turn approver and depose as a prosecution witness. Accused Manish Soni submitted that the officer promised to help him secure bail if he applied to become an “approver”. Soni alleged the encounter occurred during a court production on March 13. He submitted that after he verbally informed the court of this interaction, he was not produced before the judge for the following two scheduled hearing dates. Soni’s plea requested that these allegations be officially added to the court record. The court directed the investigating officer to submit a reply. The matter was adjourned to April 10. On Feb 25, 2021, a Scorpio vehicle with explosives was found near Antilia, industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s south Mumbai home. It was alleged that on March 4, 2021, the Scorpio owner, Hiran, was murdered. . Ten accused, including dismissed cops Sunil Mane, Sachin Waze and Pradeep Sharma, are named in the case. Soni was accused of driving the car in which Hiran was allegedly murdered. He was arrested in 2021. tnn
