Shahid Azmi's hard work paid off: Ansari's wife

26-11 accused Faheem Ansari's wife Yasmeen Ansari told rediff. com that she had expected her husband to be acquitted in this case.

Faheem's brother Usman, who attended court proceedings on Monday, said that there was no case against Faheem. Usman felt this verdict would also weaken the Rampur Central Reserve Police Force camp attack case. Usman refused to comment on whether the city police had framed his brother. "We don't want to go into all that," he said.

"Ansari and Sheikh should be released from prison if they are not wanted in any other case," Judge M L Tahiliyani said while reading out the operative part of his judgement.

Faheem's defence lawyer R B Mokashi told rediff.com that judge's order clearly indicated that Faheem was framed in this case and that the evidence produced in court was fabricated.

Yasmeen thanked slain defence lawyer Shahid Azmi and lauded efforts of current defence lawyer R B Mokashi. When asked if she slept well last night, Yasmeen said, "Ab hum chain ki neend soyenge.(Now we will sleep well)." Yasmeen also said, "We were all very disturbed when he was arrested. We were poor and had no support other than God. An organisation called the Jamiat-ul-ulema-Hind supported us when our own family members had turned their back on us. Maulana Harshad Madani had appointed Shahid Azmi as the defence lawyer. He handled the case very well. After his death, the organisation appointed lawyers R B Mokashi and Khalid Azmi."

Azmi was shot dead in his office in suburban Kurla on February 11.