Kasab's trial begins

Mumbai, Apr 17 (ANI): The trial of Ajamal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attacks, began here today.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam, who opened the arguments against Kasab, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, have been booked in 12 cases related to the terror strikes.

The prosecution case has sought for Kasab to be charged under 166 separate counts of murder along with Ansari and Ahmed.

On Thursday, a Special Sessions Court appointed Abbas Kazmi as new lawyer of Kasab to defend him as per Indian law.

Earlier, Special Judge M L Tahiliyani had revoked the appointment of Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer who was appointed to defend Kasab, on grounds of "professional misconduct".

Waghmare was removed because it turned out that she was also representing a witness in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks.

Waghmare said that the special court had not accused her of "professional misconduct", and this was all a figment of the media's imagination. (ANI)