Terror suspect is free, thanks to Shahid Azmi

Slain advocate Shahid Azmi’s efforts paid off on Monday with the acquittal of his client Fahim Ansari, accused in the 26/11 terror attacks case.

The court acquitted him saying the prosecution’s evidence to prove he was part of the conspiracy is “unreliable”. He was arrested for allegedly carrying out an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur.

The prosecution said Ansari had conducted a reconnaissance of the terror targets in Mumbai, prepared their maps and handed them over to co-accused Sabauddin Ahmed.

After cross-examining a doctor who conducted the autopsy of slain terrorist Abu Ismail, in whose pocket the maps were found, Azmi tried to establish that Ismail had bled enough to have soaked the map. The map put on record by the police had no blood stain or any creases.

The prosecution’s witnesses brought forward to nail Ansari were deflated by Azmi during cross-examination. For instance, prosecution witness Nooruddin Shaikh had told the court that he was present in Nepal when Ansari handed over the maps to Ahmed. But Azmi had put up a case that Shaikh did not go to Nepal at all.

Deputy superintendent Ashok Raghav who arrested Ansari in Rampur said no one in that area agreed to be a witness. But when Azmi asked if there were any houses in the area, Raghav fumbled and did not give a clear answer. The judge got angry and said, “I’ll send a commission to the area if you are lying.”

Then Raghav admitted there are tea-shops, small hotels and houses around the area.