The production of rape accused Mohammad Ansari at a metropolitan court in Bandra (east) was as dramatic as the claims he made before court on Wednesday. The court had a thick blanket of security from early morning as the serial offender was to be produced during the first hour. Ansari was eventually produced in the evening, after the police took him to the Nagpada police hospital to collect his DNA samples and get the nature of his bruises checked.

Around 5.15pm, Ansari was brought to court in a police van, clad in a full-length burkha, instead of the usual veil to cover the face. The police said they did not want anyone to see him before the identification parade was conducted.

As the burkha was taken off, metropolitan magistrate Sailesh Deshpande asked those not connected with the case or its coverage to vacate the courtroom.

Public prosecutor BB Yele asked the court to remand Ansari in judicial custody so the identification parade could be held.

The magistrate asked Ansari a barrage of questions, including whether he was tortured by the police or had complaints against them. Ansari said he had no complaints, but pleaded innocence. “I have done nothing. I am not even aware what I am booked under.”

The court has remanded him in judicial custody till November 9.