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Court acquits accused in FICN case
A Mumbai special court under the UAPA acquitted Usman Hanif Shaikh of charges related to possession, trafficking and alleged terrorist activity through counterfeit notes. The judge found the prosecution failed to prove the offences beyond reasonable doubt and suggested the notes could have been planted, noting lack of independent witnesses and CCTV evidence. The acquittal follows a lengthy case that began in 2014.
Why It Matters
The ruling underscores evidentiary challenges in FICN prosecutions and raises concerns about the reliability of cash-seizure arguments in terrorism-related charges.
Timeline
3 Events
Court acquits Shaikh in FICN case
May 12, 2026
Special judge Chakor S Baviskar acquitted Usman Hanif Shaikh of charges related to possession, trafficking and offences under UAPA; the judge said the prosecution failed to prove offences beyond reasonable doubt and that the counterfeit notes could have been planted. The court noted no independent witnesses or CCTV footage were produced and that the prosecution evidence falls short of confidence.
Death of Badshah leads to abatement of his case
March 2023
Badshah, an accused in the case, died in March 2023, after which his case abated; police had claimed 50 fake notes were recovered from him.
Shaikh booked in FICN case
2014
Usman Hanif Shaikh was booked by Mumbai police’s crime branch in 2014 for possessing and circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).