Nikam denies allegation that map was planted in 26/11 case

Mumbai, Jan 11 (PTI) Government counsel Ujjwal Nikamtoday assailed the defence argument that the map of 26/11targets was planted by investigators to implicate LeT suspectsFaheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, saying it was recovered bypolice from slain terrorist Abu Ismael''s trousers.

The investigating agency has done its job honestly andto charge it with such malicious statement is not in theinterests of justice, Nikam said, arguing the state''s appealagainst trial court''s order acquitting Faheem and Sabauddin.

Nikam sought to counter Faheem''s argument that noblood stains were found on the map though police''s case isthat Ismael sustained fatal bullet injuries in an encounter atGirgaum on the day of terror attacks.

Faheem''s lawyer R B Mokashi had earlier drawn court''sattention to a diagram in state''s appeal which showed bloodmarks on one side of the right pocket from where the map wasfound. He argued that the blood should have seeped inside andstained the map.

Nikam argued today that Ismael had sustained seveninjuries of which five were on the left side and only two onthe right side - in finger and arm. Since map was found in theright pocket how could it have had blood stains, he asked.

Nikam invited the court''s attention to the frontportion of the right pocket of Ismael''s trousers (produced inthe court) and pointed out there were no blood marks in thisarea.

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab today did not appearon the video screen put up specially for him to hear theproceedings through video conference from the jail. MORE PTISVS KRK