Daijiworld Media Network - Thane

Thane, May 13: A sessions court in Thane has acquitted a Kausa, Mumbra resident accused of running a counterfeit currency racket, citing insufficient evidence and lack of proof linking him to the premises where the fake notes were allegedly found.

In the 2019 case, police had claimed that Adil Amjad Mansuri was operating from a shop where they discovered 115 counterfeit Rs 500 notes and tools allegedly used for printing fake currency. Mansuri was arrested at the spot, and his presence was cited as proof of his involvement.

However, Additional Sessions Judge Amit M Shete ruled that mere presence at the site was not enough to establish possession or ownership. The prosecution failed to produce any documentation — such as tenancy or ownership papers — connecting Mansuri to the shop in question.

The court also pointed to several lapses in the investigation. One panch witness turned hostile, while another said he believed he was called only to take photographs. No CCTV footage, independent witness testimony, or complete physical evidence of the raid was presented.

Further weakening the prosecution’s case was the fact that only four of the 115 seized fake notes were sent for forensic analysis. The absence of the remaining notes and the lack of clarity on the chain of custody raised questions about the integrity of the evidence.

Judge Shete, while acquitting Mansuri, remarked on the “gaps and inconsistencies” in the case, concluding that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.