State clean chit for 26/11 prosecutor

Maharashtra on Tuesday denied that the special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, representing the state in the 26/11 attacks case in a Mumbai court, was under pressure from a minister for filing 12 different cases against the terror accused Ajmal Kasab.

Maharashtra on Tuesday denied that the special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, representing the state in the 26/11 attacks case in a Mumbai court, was under pressure from a minister for filing 12 different cases against the terror accused Ajmal Kasab.

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The Opposition claimed through an adjournment motion on Monday that Nikam had made a statement that a Union minister interfered in his legal work. The Opposition then asked the government to clarify.

Since this happened few hours before the Pradhan Committee report was tabled on Monday, assembly Speaker Dilip Patil instructed Home Minister R.R. Patil to issue statement in the house next day.

On Tuesday, Patil told the assembly and council that Nikam had rejected the claim. “Nikam has conveyed to the government that no Union minister has pressurised him. Patil said it was a deliberate effort on part of prosecution to file a single case against Kasab so the trial ended early.