Mumbai attack: Hearing on confirmation of Kasab’s death sentence from Oct 18

MUMBAI - The Bombay High Court Monday fixed Oct 18 for starting daily hearings to confirm the death sentence awarded to Mumbai attack convict and Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.

A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Ranjit More also declined to entertain Kasab’s application seeking physical presence and ruled that he would remain present through video-conferencing, his lawyer Farhana Shah said.

“As per the court’s directions, I met Kasab and discussed the issue. He wanted to remain personally present in the high court during the hearing,” Shah told IANS.

The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, expressed apprehensions about brining Kasab to the Bombay High Court on a daily basis from the Arthur Road Central Jail and said it may pose a threat to him.

Shah said in view of these developments, Kasab was unlikely to be brought to the court and would appear before it through video-conferencing as he did Monday.

She said she planned to file her appeal against the death sentence by Sep 27.

On May 6, Kasab was awarded the death sentence by Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani after finding him guilty of 86 different offences.

Kasab’s two co-accused - Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed - charged with conspiracy in the terror attack, were acquitted on the grounds that the prosecution evidence against them was doubtful.

Kasab is lodged in the Arthur Road Central Jail, where the trial was conducted.