As the first anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks nears, all eyes are set on the special court where the prosecution is gearing up to wrap up the case against Pakistan gunman Ajmal Kasab and two others who are charged with killing 166 persons.
With the testimony of 250 witnesses and
strong forensic evidence, the prosecution has prepared a watertight case against Kasab, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI.
The keenly watched trial, which began in April, is expected to be over this month end with just a few witnesses left to depose before Judge M L Tahaliyani.
Kasab is confined to a specially built isolated cell in the high security central prison and is guarded by a strong posse of Indo-Tibetan Border Security Force round the clock.
Altogether 30 eyewitnesses have identified Kasab in the identification parade and in the court. Forensic experts have also given their opinion that the DNA of articles found from Kuber boat (in which terrorists landed in Mumbai) matched with the DNA of Kasab and five other slain terrorists.
The prosecution has also screened in the court CCTV footages of terrorists from cameras installed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Times of India Building (opposite CST), Hotel Taj and Hotel Oberoi-Trident.
The court has directed lawyers and others associated with the trial not to discuss details with the media and journalists are barred from covering the proceedings.
There have been indications that defence lawyers plan to focus on Kasab's role in the attacks and possibly make a request for him to be brought to Pakistan to be cross-examined in the anti-terrorism court.
Diplomatic sources said they believed such a move could delay the trial.
The seven suspects - Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum - have been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
They have been accused of training and providing financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai nearly a year ago.