Kasab Death penalty hearing today at bombay high court

MUMBAI: The confirmation hearing of the death sentence awarded to Pakistani gunman Amir Ajmal Kasab is set to commence in the Bombay high court amidst unprecedented security on Monday. 

The court will hear the three applications-the plea to confirm the death sentence, the appeal filed by Kasab against his conviction and the appeals filed by the state government challenging the acquittal of two co-accused in the 26/11 case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed. 

A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice R V More will hear the arguments, which will be opened by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. 

Kasab will not be present in person but participate in the proceedings through video-conferencing in view of the threat perceptions against him. 

Special judge M L Tahaliyani, who is now the principal sessions judge, awarded the capital punishment to the 22-year-old Pakistani gunman for his role in the November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai attack that claimed the lives of 166 people, including 26 foreigners. 

Unprecedented security measures have been ordered in the court premises with strict regulations on the entry of lawyers, litigants, mediapersons, court employees and others in Court No. 49, according to IANS. 

Government counsel Ujjwal Nikam, who fought the case in the trial court, will open his arguments seeking confirmation of the death sentence. 

Later, defence lawyers Farhana Shah and Amin Solkar will make their submissions on the confirmation of the sentence and their appeal against it. 

Two other co-accused in the case, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, who were acquitted by the Special Court owing to "doubtful evidence" against them, were re-arrested following an appeal filed by the state government. 

Both are currently lodged in different jails in Mumbai. 

Nine out of 10 gunmen, barring Kasab, who staged the attack were killed by security forces.