Sessions Court frees alleged Hizbul Mujahideen member

Mumbai: A sessions court recently acquitted two accused, including a suspected member of Hizbul Mujahideen, from allegedly possessing counterfeit currency notes to the tune of over Rs 22,000 and being involved in unlawful activities.

According to the prosecution, API Balkrishna Ghadge of the Anti-Narcotic Cell of Worli Unit in January 2013 received secret information that a Kashmiri frequented a lodge in Masjid Bunder and circulated counterfeit Indian currency. Acting on the tip-off, the police raided the place and arrested J&K resident Farooq Ahmed Neku and Assam resident Mohammed Lutfur Rehman Talukdar. The police claimed it recovered fake currency notes in denominations of Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

During interrogation, ANC officers came to know that Neku was a suspected member of banned terrorist outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, and hence, transferred the case to crime branch of Mumbai police. The police also claimed to have recovered three CDs and one pen drive from Neku’s suitcase which contained audios and videos about Hizbul’s activities against India. The prosecution further claimed that the accused raised funds for the banned organisation.

However, after trial, special judge Shripad Tekale agreed with defence lawyer, Khan Abdul Wahab and Kamar Merchant’s contentions that there was no evidence to show that the accused were members of any banned outfit.