Kasab not given fair trial: amicus curiae to SC

The sole convict in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, on Tuesday contended before the Supreme Court that he was not given a free and fair trial in the case. Kasab's death penalty appeal adjourned

The sole convict in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, on Tuesday contended before the Supreme Court that he was not given a free and fair trial in the case.

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Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, who has been appointed as amicus curiae by the apex court to defend Kasab, told a bench headed by justice Aftab Alam that he was not a part of the larger conspiracy for waging war against the nation.

“Even if I am guilty under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC and other provisions, it cannot be said that I was part of the larger conspiracy of waging war,” said Ramachandran.

Maintaining that the prosecution has failed to prove the case against him beyond doubts, he told the bench that his right against self-incrimination as well as his right to get himself adequately represented by a counsel to defend himself in the case have been violated during the trial.

The apex court had on October 10 last year stayed the death sentence of 24-year-old Kasab.

In the special leave petition filed by Kasab, challenging the Bombay High Court judgment, he claimed he was brainwashed like a “robot” into committing the heinous crime.