26/11 case: Bombay high court verifies fake Pakistani passport of Faheem Ansari

The Bombay high court today perused the 'fake' Pakistani passport of Faheem Ansari, acquitted by a trial court of the charges of facilitating the 26/11 attacks, in the wake of claims that he was holding a fake one.

Ansari was summoned to the court to enable the judges to verify police claims that he was holding a fake Pakistani passport on which his photograph was affixed.

After having a close look at Ansari, Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice RV More said they had verified Ansari's face with the photograph appearing on the "fake" Pakistani passport.

According to government counsel Ujjwal Nikam, Ansari, a suspected LeT member, had procured a passport in Pakistan in the assumed name of Hassan Hamad which carried the photograph of Faheem.

The then the interior minister of Pakistan had confirmed to the Indian high commissioner that the passport was issued on the strength of fake documents given by applicant (Faheem), Nikam submitted.

Ansari, lodged in Arthur Road Central Jail here, was produced in the high court amid tight security. He was earlier brought from Uttar Pradesh where he was arrested in other terror cases.

The court is hearing confirmation of death sentence given to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab for his role in the attacks. His appeal against the penalty and state's plea against acquittal of Faheem and Sabauddin Ahmed are also being heard.