In an embarrassment for the Mumbai Police in the 26/11 terror attack trial, a prosecution witness presented in court on Thursday as the translator of a note in Arabic allegedly left by the LeT attackers, which said the attack was a pointer towards war, was found to have no knowledge of the Arabic script.

On Wednesday, Inspector Prakash Bhoite, who investigated the attack on the Taj Mahal Hotel, told the court that police had found two bombs near the hotel during the attack and one contained a note which said “Ammar Askari”.

A translator used by the police translated it as “Yeh jang ki aur ishara hai” or “This is a pointer to war”. The 10 attackers and others wanted in the case have been accused of waging war against the country.

Mukhtar Pirzade, an insurance agent in Bhiwandi, confirmed he had translated the note for the police. But his testimony did not stand when cross-examined by Abbas Kazmi, the lawyer for captured terrorrist Ajmal Kasab. Kazmi spoke a line in Arabic and asked Pirzade what it meant. Pirzade, who did not have an answer, said he can’t read or write Arabic, and that a friend had translated the note.

Special Judge M L Tahilyani pulled up the police: “Why do you go looking for translators in Bhiwandi when our HC has full-time Urdu translators.” Urdu and Arabic use the same script. While Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam refused to comment, Crime Branch chief Rakesh Maria said: “This issue does not have any bearing on our case.”