87 charges against Ajmal, may get death if convicted

The special court trying the 26/11 terror attacks case has framed 87 charges against main accused Mohammad Ajmal Amir, alias Kasab, and co-accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Shaikh.

The charges include waging a war against the government of India, conspiracy to strike terror by attacking Mumbai, and murder. If convicted, the three could be sentenced to death; the minimum punishment will be life imprisonment.

The nine terrorists shot dead during the attacks and the 35 wanted accused, who are reportedly in Pakistan, have also been charged with conspiracy.

The charges have been framed under the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Explosives Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Prevention of Damage to Property Act and Customs Act.

Ajmal has also been charged under the Indian Railways Act for wantonly killing people at the CST railway station. Another charge under the Passport Act accuses him of entering the Indian soil without a valid visa.

The judge said that the bullets found on the bodies of at least seven people killed at the CST railway station, Cama Hospital, near Metro Cinema and Girgaum Chowpatty “definitely” matched with those found in the AK-47 Ajmal used.

Ansari has been accused of using forged documents to obtain a Reliance SIM card and getting a fake college Identity card made. There is no individual charge against Shaikh.