Bombay HC Rejects Plea of 26/11 Acquitted Man Seeking Auto Permit Clearance

Mumbai– The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Faheem Ansari, who had sought a police clearance certificate (PCC) to operate an autorickshaw for his livelihood.

A bench comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and Ranjitsinh Bhonsale ruled that the authorities were justified in refusing the certificate. The detailed order is expected to be released later.

Ansari had approached the court after his request for a PCC — mandatory for obtaining a commercial driving badge and permit — was denied. According to officials, the rejection was based on allegations linking him to the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The state government, opposing his plea, told the court that Ansari continues to remain under surveillance, which justified the decision to withhold clearance.

In his petition, Ansari argued that the denial was arbitrary and violated his fundamental right to livelihood, especially since he had been acquitted in the 2008 terror attacks case by trial and higher courts.

The case relates to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which coordinated strikes across Mumbai claimed 166 lives and left hundreds injured over nearly 60 hours. While terrorist Ajmal Kasab was convicted, Ansari and another accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence — a decision later upheld by higher courts.

However, authorities maintained that past allegations and ongoing monitoring were sufficient grounds to deny the clearance.

Ansari, who was released from prison in 2019 after serving a sentence in a separate case, had taken up work at printing presses but later applied for an autorickshaw licence due to financial constraints. Though he secured the licence, he was unable to operate without the mandatory PCC.

The High Court’s decision means Ansari will not be granted permission to ply an autorickshaw at this stage, while legal options for further appeal may remain open.