New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear
on Monday the plea of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab
challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 26/11
Mumbai attacks case.
Kasab, the sole convict in the case, has filed the
petition through jail authorities in the apex court which has
appointed senior advocate Raju Ramachandaran as amicus curie
to assist it in deciding the appeal.
A bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai
will hear the appeal.
On September 2, the apex court had agreed to hear the
plea of Maharashtra government against the acquittal of two
accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the 26/11 case.
It, however, had refused to pass any order on Kasab when
the state government pleaded that his letter to the Supreme
Court challenging his death sentence should be tagged with
this appeal.
"We are taking a step regarding this (Kasab`s letter),"
the bench had said.
The Bombay High Court had in its February 21 verdict
upheld the trial court order of death sentence of Kasab for
the "brutal and diabolical" attacks aimed at "destabilising"
the government.
Kasab`s death penalty was upheld on charges of criminal
conspiracy, waging war against the nation, IPC section related
to murder and under sections of Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act.
The Bombay High Court had also upheld his conviction on
19 counts under IPC, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Explosive
Substances Act, Foreigners Act, Passport Act and Railway Act.
The trial court had acquitted Faheem and Sabauddin.
Kasab, the sole 26/11 terrorist captured alive, had been
sentenced to death by a special anti-terror court on May 6
last year.
He and his accomplices had landed at Budhwar Park in
South Mumbai on November 26, 2008 night from Karachi by sea
and went on a shooting spree at various city landmarks,
leaving 166 people dead and many more wounded.
PTI
