Kasab gets serious as case against him opens in court

Mumbai, April 17 (PTI) As the trial in the Mumbai
terror attack case opened Friday, prime accused Mohammed Amir
Ajmal Kasab felt the heat and appeared to be tense.

Hearing Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam's submissions on the
LeT's alleged designs to destablise India as part of the
conspiracy in this case, Kasab sat in the dock with his head
down, marking a change in his attitude when was seen smiling
in court two days ago.

Whenever his name was mentioned, Kasab became alert.

As soon as Kasab was produced in the court, his newly
appointed lawyer, S G Abbas Kazmi said he would like to
discuss the case with the accused and the judge allowed them
to meet for five minutes.

Kasab then put forward a plea that he was a juvenile
(below 18 years) at the time of the terror attack on November
26 last year and hence the court had no jurisdiction to try
him.

The judge, before giving order on his plea, asked him
to stand up in the dock. When Kasab got up the judge noted,
"he does not appear to be juvenile. He is definitely above 21
years". A nervous Kasab then sat down after the judge asked
him to take seat.

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam called Kasab a "liar" and read
his confession and jail records to show that he was 21 years
old.

A co-accused, Faheem Ansari was reading magazines in
the dock. Noticing this, the judge inquired about the magazine
and told court officials to take it away and give it back to
Ansari when the court rises for the day. PTI SVS
PMR
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