In a significant ruling, a special court in Mumbai acquitted Usman Hanif Shaikh of charges related to the possession and trafficking of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) after a lengthy legal battle spanning 12 years. The court, presided over by Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar, determined that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Shaikh was arrested in a 2014 operation by the Mumbai police's Anti-Extortion Cell, where police claimed to have recovered 86 counterfeit ₹1,000 notes. The case was complicated by the death of another accused, Adam Nijam Pathan, in March 2023. The court noted that the prosecution's evidence lacked credibility, highlighting the absence of independent witnesses and CCTV footage from the crowded area near Reay Road railway station. Ultimately, the judge concluded that mere possession of counterfeit notes did not equate to trafficking, leading to Shaikh's acquittal.