Ajmal Kasab given a fair trial: Bombay high court

Striking down arguments made by Ajmal Kasab’s lawyers, the Bombay high court in its judgment has held that the 26/11 accused was given a fair trial and no prejudice can be caused to him or his defense due to the shuffling of his lawyers in the trial court.

Kasab’s lawyers Amin Solkar and Farhana Shah had argued that he was not given a fair chance to defend himself and that it was necessary to remand the case back to the trial court. They questioned the appointment of Abbas Kazmi, who is not from the bar panel.

The high court, however, concluded that the court was “alive to the need to appoint a competent lawyer to defend serious charges” in a case of such magnitude. “There is, therefore, no miscarriage of justice,” the court held. The court also did not criticise the removal of advocate Kazmi as Kasab’s defence lawyer.

Rejecting the request for retrial, the high court bench said that, “The victims’ rights will be defeated if this case is sent for retrial.” Advocate Shah said, “We raised important loopholes in our appeal, but that has been overlooked. If considered, it would have raised several doubts in the case.”