Mumbai, Sept 12: Due to lapses in investigation, a special court has acquitted two Dawood Ibrahim gangsters who were arrested under a stringent law of Maharashtra on the charge of circulating fake Indian currency notes. Ashok Laherchand Bhansali and Dinesh Jain were acquitted by designated judge A P Bhangale yesterday as police failed to prove their case that the duo had contrived with Dawood Ibrahim and his gang to circulate counterfeit currency notes in India.

According to police, the two were allegedly members of Dawood Ibrahim syndicate which was actively involved in circulating fake notes. The counterfeit currency came from Karachi in Pakistan and was circulated in the country by Dawood Ibrahim's syndicate, police alleged.

Bhansali and Jain were arrested on the basis of statement given by a convict, Atul Shah, who has been sent to jail for similar offence. However, police failed to show the links between Atul Shah and the two accused.


Dawood's associate Aftab Bhatki used to call accused Ashok on cellphone from Karachi and give him instructions on circulating the fake currency. In this regard, they produced print-outs of BPL cell phone company, police said.
Defence lawyers J G Bhanushali and Karan Mehtra however, pointed out lapses in investigation. They said the print-out of BPL cell phone was on an ordinary sheet of paper and not on the company letterhead. Besides, it was not endorsed by any officer. Therefore, this document could not be relied upon.

The court accepted their argument and acquitted the duo, who were arrested under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Bureau Report