Case against Indian-origin scribe Suroor dropped in UK

LONDON: Britain’ s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on Tuesday dropped its case against Indian-origin journalist Hasan Suroor on the ground that it had “no evidence”

LONDON: Britain’ s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on Tuesday dropped its case against Indian-origin journalist Hasan Suroor on the ground that it had “no evidence” to support the allegation of “sexual grooming” made against him by a vigilante group last November.

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“Following a further review of the case there is now no longer a realistic prospect of conviction,” CPS told the Blackfriars Crown Court in a written submission. Suroor said he was considering suing the vigilante group called Unknown TV.

The judge ruled he had decided to return an “unequivocal” verdict of “not guilty” and criticised the prosecution’s handling of the case. He said he was “extremely concerned” that such serious allegations were sought to be pursued on the basis of a “telephone call” from an “unregulated” vigilante group.

Suroor said a written order declaring his innocence would be issued on June 24 with a ruling on his application for legal costs to be reimbursed. PaulMason, Suroor’s defence counsel, said the “robust stand we took has paid off”.