Mumbai, February 27: Fahim Ansari, who was acquitted in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a police clearance certificate (PCC) to drive an autorickshaw and earn a livelihood.
Ansari and co-accused Sabauddin Ahmed were cleared of charges in the case in 2010 due to a lack of evidence. While Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab was convicted, the court found no substantial proof linking Ansari and Ahmed to the attack. Their acquittal was later upheld by both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.
Despite this, Ansari claims he has been denied a PCC on the grounds of past allegations of association with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). In his plea, he termed the decision as “arbitrary, illegal, and discriminatory,” arguing that his acquittal should not be a barrier to employment. He emphasized his fundamental right to work, asserting that past accusations should not permanently disqualify him from job opportunities.
After his release from jail in 2019, Ansari worked at a Mumbai-based printing press, which shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later found employment in another printing press in Mumbra but sought a more stable income. In pursuit of this, he obtained a three-wheeler license on January 1, 2024, and applied for a PCC—a mandatory requirement for commercial auto-rickshaw drivers.
Following delays in response, Ansari filed an RTI request, through which he learned that authorities had declined his PCC application due to his alleged past links with LeT.
His plea was presented on Tuesday before a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale. However, the bench recused itself, and the case will now be heard on March 17 by a bench led by Justice Sarang Kotwal.
The prosecution had earlier accused Ansari and Ahmed of preparing and passing on maps of Mumbai to alleged Pakistani conspirators behind the 26/11 attack. However, the court dismissed these claims, noting that better maps were available online.
The upcoming hearing will determine whether Ansari is granted the police clearance necessary to pursue a livelihood as a rickshaw driver.
Last updated by a enewsx: