A man once accused—but later acquitted—of involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks is now battling for the right to earn a living. Fahim Ansari has petitioned the Bombay High Court after police denied him a clearance certificate, essential for working as a commercial auto-rickshaw driver, citing unproven links to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Ansari was arrested in December 2008 while already in custody for a separate case in Lucknow. Though he was convicted in that case and served a decade-long sentence, the 26/11 charges against him did not hold up in court. In 2010, a special court acquitted him, ruling that the allegations—claiming he had prepared maps for the attackers—lacked evidence. This acquittal was upheld by higher courts, including the Supreme Court in 2012.
After his release, Ansari struggled to find stable employment. He worked at a printing press, then took up food delivery during the pandemic, and later returned to a printing job in Mumbra. Facing financial difficulties, he decided to drive an auto-rickshaw to support his family. But when he applied for a Police Clearance Certificate—mandatory for commercial drivers—his request was denied.
Authorities claimed his alleged ties to LeT were the reason, despite no new charges or evidence against him. Frustrated, Ansari filed a Right to Information (RTI) query in August 2024, only to receive the same justification.
Now, he is challenging the decision, arguing that the rejection is arbitrary and discriminatory. His petition states that barring him from employment violates his fundamental rights, including the right to livelihood and dignity under the Indian Constitution.
Ansari insists he has already served his sentence for the Lucknow case and should not continue to face barriers. His plea underscores that the government has presented no fresh evidence of wrongdoing, making the denial of his clearance certificate baseless.
The case, initially assigned to a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale, was transferred after they recused themselves. It will now be heard by a new bench on March 18.
Ansari seeks a court directive to grant him the clearance and prevent authorities from using his past arrest as a lifelong obstacle to employment. His fight, he argues, is not just for a certificate—it’s for his right to rebuild a life.