KASAB APPEALS TO BOMBAY HIGH COURT

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani gunman, who was sentenced to death for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court challenging the verdict and sought a legal aid panel to fight his case.

It has been reported that Kasab filed the appeal through the jail authorities and his plea for a lawyer has been forwarded to the High Court Legal Services Committee (HCLSC).

The HCLSC would now present Kasab’s plea for a lawyer before Acting Chief Justice J N Patel, who is patron in chief of Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority and senior Judge and Chairperson of HCLSC, Justice Ranjana Desai.

Earlier on May 6, Kasab’s defence lawyer K. P. Pawar said the decision about appealing to the High Court against the death sentence would be taken after consultations with the convict. A Mumbai Special Court on May 6 sentenced Kasab to death on four counts.

Judge M L Tahiliyani awarded death sentence for Kasab on-waging war against India, murder, conspiracy to murder, and participating in an act of terror under Unlawful Activity Prevention ct (UAPA).

Judge Tahaliyani felt that Kasab’s crime fell under the judicial definition of ’rarest of rare’.

Kasab, who is the 52nd prisoner on death row in India, was also awarded life term on five other counts.