Justice Bharati Dangre Of Bombay High Court Recuses From Hearing Ex-Cop Sachin Waze's Plea

Bombay High Court judge Justice Bharati Dangre on Tuesday recused from passing orders or further hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by dismissed cop Sachin Waze.

A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande had earlier this month heard brief submissions on the plea filed by Waze, who seeks his release from the custody in the corruption case related to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Waze had turned approver in that case and is in custody since then. He has sought his release arguing that all the accused including Deshmukh are out on bail and he being an approver still continues to be in custody and thus he cannot be kept in jail for an "indefinite period."

The bench after hearing the brief submissions in the plea for an interim relief, had closed the matter for orders.

On Tuesday, the matter was listed for passing order, however, when the case was called out, the bench recused from passing any order.

"Due to some personal reasons, I will have to recuse from this case. I cannot pass any order. Let this matter not be placed before me," Justice Dangre told the advocates, present in the court hall.

Notably, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered an FIR against Deshmukh and others on April 21, 2021 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B of the IPC for an attempt to obtain undue advantage for the improper and dishonest performance of public duty.

The agency had accused Deshmukh of corruption in transfers and postings of police officers in Maharashtra. Waze, who was suspended in the early 2000s in a custodial death case, claimed that Deshmukh demanded money to facilitate his reinstatement in the police force on June 6, 2020.