Mumbai: Convicted Pakistani terrorist
Ajmal Kasab Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that he had no
objection to the state opening arguments on confirmation of
death sentence awarded to him for his role in the 26/11 terror
attacks in which 166 people were killed.
His lawyer, Farhana Shah, made a statement that Kasab
has no objection if the state made arguments first on
confirmation of death sentence awarded to him.
However, state`s Counsel Ujjwal Nikam said Kasab`s
appeal against his conviction and death sentence should be
heard first before the confirmation matter was taken up. If
the appeal fails, only then the confirmation of death sentence
awarded to Kasab can be heard, he submitted.
Justices Ranjana Desai and RV More then asked Nikam
to file written submissions and posted the matter for
hearing tomorrow.
As per CrPc provisions, if an accused is sentenced to
death by the trial court, then the matter is placed before the
High Court for confirmation of capital punishment.
The judges, however, hinted that the confirmation of
death sentence as well as the appeal filed by the convict has
to be heard simultaneously.
The bench observed that from October 18 it would hear
arguments on a day-to-day basis on confirmation of death
penalty imposed on Kasab.
The court has ruled that Kasab would not attend the
court personally but hear proceedings through video conference
link.
PTI
