26/11: Kasab challenges death sentence in SC

Image: Kasab at the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus
Photographs: Courtesy: Sebastian D'Souza/Mumbai Mirror

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab has moved the Supreme Court challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 28/11 Mumbai attacks.

"Kasab has moved an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court verdict confirming his death sentence slapped on him by a trial court for his role in the 26/11 attacks," sources said.

Surinder Singh, inspector general (prison), Arthur Road Jail, said Kasab has filed the petition in the apex court through the jail authorities.

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On Feb 21, Bombay HC upheld Kasab's death sentence

Image: 57 people were killed at CST including passengers, railway and police personnel
Photographs: Reuters

The Bombay high court had by its February 21 verdict upheld the death sentence of Kasab for the "brutal and diabolical" 26/11 Mumbai attacks aimed at "destabilising" the government.

Kasab's death penalty was upheld on charges of criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, Indian Penal Code section related to murder and under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.The court also upheld his conviction on 19 counts under IPC, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act, Foreigners Act, Passport Act and Railway Act.

The high court verdict acquitting two alleged Indian co-conspirators Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed for want of corroborative evidence has also been challenged by the Maharashtra government. The trial court had also acquitted Faheem and Sabauddin.

'Kasab's crime rarest of rare'

Image: A resident places a billboard about Kasab outside a residential building near the Leopold Cafe, one of the sites of the Mumbai attacks
Photographs: Reuters

However, the high court held that Kasab's crime fell under the rarest of rare category deserving capital punishment.

"It is rarest of the rare case and is an uncommon crime. There is no scope for reform or rehabilitation and a harsh penalty of death is required. Kasab has never shown any signs of remorse and we have have observed that he has not shown repentance whenever he appeared on videoconference," the bench had remarked.

In its 1208-page judgment, the high court had also said Kasab was not influenced by anyone and that he had applied his own mind and voluntarily joined Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

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