The Mirzapur rural court on Friday acquitted notorious gangsters Fazlu-ur-Rehman, alias Fazlu, and Bhogilal Darji who were accused in the over two-decade-old alleged abduction of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani from the outskirts of the city. The accused were released on the ground of benefit of doubt.

When Adani along with one Shantilal Patel were going towards Mahammadpura from Karnavati Club around 7.30 pm on January 1, 1998, a scooter intercepted their car and Adani was abducted at gunpoint and taken to an isolated place in another car, say court papers.

The case was registered with the Sarkhej police station and then sub-inspector RK Patel was the complainant in the case.

It was alleged that Fazlu and Darji along with their other accomplices had abducted Adani and the latter was released after paying a ransom of Rs 15 crore at the behest of Dubai-based Gangster Irfan Goga.

After the complaint was filed, a certain Mohammed, alias Raja Javed Ansari, was arrested on June 17, 1999.

This apart, nine others were declared wanted which included Bhogilal Darji, Jayesh Darji, Riyaz, Akil, Pankaj, Munna and Mohammed Shah. Eventually, the police were able to arrest Fazlu on the basis of a transfer warrant.

The court had earlier summoned Adani to appear as a witness in the case. However, his name was eventually dropped from the witness list and his testimony recorded earlier in the case was only considered.