MUMBAI, May 13 -- Twelve years after a man was booked for possessing and circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), a special court, on Tuesday, acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the charges and observing that the notes could have been "planted". The case stemmed from a December 12, 2014 operation by the crime branch's Anti-Extortion Cell, where police claimed to have recovered 86 counterfeit Rs.1,000 notes from two accused - Adam Nijam Pathan alias Badshah and Shaikh - allegedly brought from West Bengal for circulation in Mumbai. Police claimed 50 fake notes were recovered from Badshah, whose case abated after his death in March 2023, and 36 from Shaikh. Another accused, later found to be a juvenile, allegedly led investigators to another cache of 50 counterfeit notes stored in a rented room. After examining nine prosecution witnesses, the court held that "no offence is proved against the accused". The court observed that the prosecution failed to prove Shaikh had "sold or bought or received or otherwise trafficked" fake notes, adding that mere possession could not establish trafficking. No witnesses or CCTV could be found. Holding that the prosecution evidence "falls short to inspire my confidence", the judge acquitted Shaikh....