The Bombay High Court has upheld the death sentence to Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab in 26/11 attacks case.
The court upheld Kasab’s conviction on all charges including multiple murders, conspiracy and waging war against the nation. The confirmation comes nine months after the lone 26/11 terrorist captured alive was ordered to be sent to the gallows by the trial court on May 6, last year, reported news agency PTI.
The court, however, dismissed the Maharashtra government’s petition against the acquittal of two Indians Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, accused of aiding the commission of the crime. “We are with the trial court’s observation that there is no corroboration of evidence to prove involvement of Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the case,” the judgement said.
“Kasab has never shown any remorse after his arrest and we have observed that even on video conference he has not shown any signs of regret,” Justice Desai said reading out the judgement for the bench.
“Harsh penalty of death is required in some cases, especially this one, and the court would be sending a wrong signal to society if any penalty less than death is given,” the court said.
Recalling the sacrifices made by the men in uniform during the attacks, the court said, “Several brave policemen were killed in the attacks and we would be failing in our duty if we did not acknowledge their sacrifice.” Kasab, an LeT operative, has been confined to jail since his arrest on November 26, 2008, when he was caught alive at Girgaum Chowpatty in south Mumbai.
Nine others, who had come with Kasab, from Karachi by sea, were gunned down by security forces at terror sites –Hotels Taj Mahal and Oberoi-Trident and Jewish outreach centre Nariman House in South Mumbai, but not before leaving 166 dead and many more injured. During arguments in the High Court, Kasab pleaded that his trial was “unfair” and demanded a fresh trial contending that material evidence was suppressed and norms were not followed to defend him. However, his plea was rejected.
Government Counsel Ujjwal Nikam placed photographs and CCTV footages showing Kasab in terror acts. However, Kasab argued that they had been morphed and his face was not clear. The prosecution also relied on Kasab’s confession before a Magistrate accepting his role in 26/11 attack and his guilt plea before trial court admitting the crime.
Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R.V. More upheld the death sentence awarded by the trial court Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani May 2010.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who fought the case from the lower court onwards, was present from the prosecution side.
Kasab’s court-appointed lawyers, Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah and Santosh Deshpande, was also present.
On Nov 26, 2008, Kasab and nine other Pakistani terrorists sneaked into south Mumbai through the Arabian Sea route and targeted various locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway terminus, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, Hotel Trident-Oberoi, and Nariman House, which housed the Jewish Chabad House.
The 60-hour mayhem left 166 people dead, including many foreign nationals, and over 300 injured.
