Mumbai: Hours after informing a court that
he wanted to plead guilty to all the charges framed against
him in connection with the 26/11 blasts, prime accused Ajmal
Kasab changed his mind and said and did not want to say
anything.
When asked by Special Judge M L Tahailiyani why he
said he wanted to plead guilty in the morning session of the
court, Kasab replied, "Yun hi (Just like that)."
The court then asked if he was being influenced by
someone to admit his guilt, but the Pakistani gunman said he
was not.
When the judge asked him whether he wanted the trial
to go on, 22-year-old Kasab replied: "Ji haan, aapki marzi se
(Yes sir, with your permission)."
As judge Tahaliyani expressed surprise over Kasab`s
behaviour, defence counsel Abbas Kazmi said it was due to the
auspicious day of `Shab-e-baraat (night of blessings)` which
Muslims observed last night. On this day people believe that
if you confess, you are forgiven by god, Kazmi told the court.
Later, Kazmi told reporters that Kasab was frustrated
and was under the impression that a verdict will be given if
he pleads guilty to all charges.
"I have explained to him that despite his pleading
guilty to all charges the trial will go on because there are
two other accused in the dock," Kazmi said.
In the morning when a witness was being examined,
Kasab stood up in the dock and told Tahaliyani that he wanted
to plead guilty.
Bureau Report
