MHA Jt Secretary to appear as witness in 26/11 case

A senior home ministry official would appear as witness tomorrow in a special 26/11 court to throw light on sanction given to prosecute Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and two others on the charge of "waging war against the nation".

A senior home ministry official would appear as witness tomorrow in a special 26/11 court to throw light on sanction given to prosecute Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and two others on the charge of "waging war against the nation".

HT Image

In a case of criminal conspiracy hatched outside India, sanction of the Central government is necessary under the laws to prosecute an accused. In this case, MHA Joint Secretary (Judicial) Shashi Bhushan as a competent authority had granted sanction to prosecute Kasab, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.

Bhushan would be examined to throw light on this aspect, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI.

Kasab is facing the charges of killing 166 people in the Mumbai attacks, while Faheem and Sabauddin have been charged with preparing maps of targets and handing them over to the Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) to carry out the strikes.

Kasab, who has not been keeping well for past three days, came to court today wearing a dark blue woollen sweater. On Friday, he had informed Judge M L Tahaliyani he had fever and the court had asked the jail doctor to treat him.