<p>A UK court today dropped a case of "sexual grooming" against an Indian-origin British journalist and columnist Hasan Suroor for lack of evidence and declared him not guilty.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Suroor, who was arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) last November after an anti-paedophile sting operation in London, is now planning to sue the vigilante group, Unknown TV, behind the sting for damages.<br /><br />"Following a further review of the case there is now no longer a realistic prospect of conviction," the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told Blackfriars Crown Court in a written submission today.<br /><br />The judge ruled that he had decided to return an "unequivocal verdict of not guilty".<br /><br />A written order declaring Suroor innocent is to be issued on June 24 along with a ruling on his application for his legal costs to be reimbursed.<br /><br />Suroor's lawyer Paul Mason said: "The robust stand we took has paid off."The CPS is yet to officially comment on the case.<br /><br />Suroor had been caught on camera as he was confronted by members of Unknown TV, organisers of the sting operation who alleged he was waiting for a 14-year-old girl.<br /><br />A member of the anti-paedophile vigilante group had allegedly posed as a 14-year-old and allegedly solicited Suroor on social media.<br /><br />Groups such as Unknown TV pose as minors on dating and social networking sites in an attempt to catch adult men who solicit sex with minors.</p>
<p>A UK court today dropped a case of "sexual grooming" against an Indian-origin British journalist and columnist Hasan Suroor for lack of evidence and declared him not guilty.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Suroor, who was arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) last November after an anti-paedophile sting operation in London, is now planning to sue the vigilante group, Unknown TV, behind the sting for damages.<br /><br />"Following a further review of the case there is now no longer a realistic prospect of conviction," the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told Blackfriars Crown Court in a written submission today.<br /><br />The judge ruled that he had decided to return an "unequivocal verdict of not guilty".<br /><br />A written order declaring Suroor innocent is to be issued on June 24 along with a ruling on his application for his legal costs to be reimbursed.<br /><br />Suroor's lawyer Paul Mason said: "The robust stand we took has paid off."The CPS is yet to officially comment on the case.<br /><br />Suroor had been caught on camera as he was confronted by members of Unknown TV, organisers of the sting operation who alleged he was waiting for a 14-year-old girl.<br /><br />A member of the anti-paedophile vigilante group had allegedly posed as a 14-year-old and allegedly solicited Suroor on social media.<br /><br />Groups such as Unknown TV pose as minors on dating and social networking sites in an attempt to catch adult men who solicit sex with minors.</p>