The special TADA court on Monday directed the CBI to release two persons arrested from Nepal in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case after the agency admitted that it was a case of “mistaken identity.”

The CBI on Monday informed the court that the two persons, who were arrested by the Nepal police and then extradited to India under the pretext of them being two of the 127 accused in the 1993 blasts case, were indeed the wrong persons and it was a case of mistaken identity.

The CBI had produced the two before the TADA court saying that they were Salim Abdul Ghani Gazi and Riyaz Khatri, who had an Interpol Red Corner notice issued for their arrest in 1997. But the agency on Monday took a U-turn and said the arrested persons had no connection with the blasts.

“We wanted Salim Gazi and Riyaz Khatri, instead the Nepal police deported Asfak Tak and Riyaz Lone. It’s an honest error on the part of the Nepal police,” said public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. Nikam said both the arrested have no past criminal background and hence should be released at the earliest.

Designated TADA judge D U Mulla ordered that both Tak and Lone be immediately released and directed the CBI to make their travel arrangements. In its application, the CBI has also stated that both the persons would be flown back to Nepal and the cost would be borne by the agency.