Kasab can read books, but not newspapers: court

Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) A special court in India's
financial capital Mumbai has rejected the plea of Ajmal Amir
Kasab, the lone gunman arrested for the 26/11 terror attacks,
to have access to newspapers in jail but allowed his lawyer to
lend him some books for reading.

"I informed the court that Kasab wanted to read
newspapers in jail but the plea was not considered. Instead
the court suggested that I could lend some story books to
him," Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi told PTI.

As Kasab is well versed in Urdu, Kazmi said, he was
planning to give him books in that language.

"The books will be given to the jailor who in turn
will on pass them to Kasab," the 54-year-old Mumbai lawyer
said.

To a question, Kazmi said the 26/11 attacks accused
likes to read stories which have "entertainment value."

On the daily schedule of Kasab, Kazmi said he was
in solitary confinement and was on his own.

The lawyer said he had been given a short time to
prepare for arguments on charges proposed by prosecution
against Kasab.

On May 2, he has to give his submissions after going
through the 11,000-page chargesheet. "I am not ready yet,"
Kazmi said.

Kasab's lawyer further said that he was devoting
most of his time to this case after court hours and that he is
not taking up any other matter.

To a question about visit of Kasab's mother, Kazmi
said he had no knowledge of any such development and also
Kasab had not talked to him about his family or personal
matters.

Kazmi said Kasab was cooperating with him and his
reponse to the legal queries has been good. But he had no
idea how long will the trial continue. "Much would depend on
the prosecution and the witnesses they would examine".

Asked whether the government had decided the amount of
fees to be paid to him, Kazmi said the court had appointed him
and also recommended fees.

"Let the government decide and then I shall decide
about acceptance or non-acceptance of fees. It would be
premature to say anything at this stage".

Kazmi said he was given 'Z' security and added that
this was the first time he had been provided with security.

Earlier, too he had defended accused allegedly
involved in terror cases but defence advocates had never been
given security.

To a question how he felt defending Kasab and
whether this had made any difference to him, the lawyer said
"this case is very sensitive and there is a lot of media
exposure. The entire world was watching this case. There is a
lot of work pressure." PTI SVS
SAK