Legal aid panel refuse to defend Ajmal

MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the Bombay Metropolitan Magistrate Court's Bar Association's refusal to defend the lone terrorist captured during Mumbai terror attacks, lawyers from the Legal Aid Panel also followed suit.
    
Mohd Amir Ajmal, involved in the killing of three senior police officials, including ATS chief Hemant Karkare, is in police custody till December 24.
    
Earlier, the resolution was passed by lawyers of the Bombay Metropolitan Magistrate Court's Bar Association refusing to defend Ajmal.
         
Defense lawyer Dinesh Mota, senior most member of the Legal Aid Panel, was requested by magistrate N N Shrimangale, who remanded Ajmal to police custody till December 24, to legally aid the arrested terrorist.
         
Mota, however, refused to appear for Ajmal citing ethical constraints. "My name was recommended by one of the magistrates in the Esplanade court following which magistrate Shrimangale asked me yesterday if I would appear for Ajmal," Mota said.
           
Due to security concerns, Ajmal was not produced in a court and prior to regular court hours the Magistrate and a public prosecutor were taken to the police lock-up where the terrorist is being kept.
         
Ajmal and terrorist Ismail Khan who was killed during a shootout with the police, had killed six policemen including Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar, on November 26 night.
         
The police have registered 12 offences in connection with the November 26 strikes in the city.