Kasab planned to target Malabar Hills too during the Mumbai attacks

Mumbai, Apr 19 (ANI): Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone survivour of Mumbai terror attacks, has confessed that he and his associate were also planning to attack the posh Malabar Hills area of the city.

Located in south Mumbai, Malabar Hills is home to Maharashtra's top officials and businessmen.

Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that Kasab's retraction from his earlier confessional statement, saying it was made under duress, would have no effect on the trial.

"The confessional statement from which Kasab has retracted will have no effect on the case. Although this has been proved that Kasab and his associates had pre-planned the attack on Mumbai and had their training in Pakistan. And after coming to India, he retracted from his confessional statement and thereafter his saying that he was juvenile, was all a part of this planning," said Nikam.

Kasab could face the gallows if found guilty.

"Nikam told the court on which evidence he is going to reply and what all material his prosecution team had collected," said Abbas Kazmi, defence attorney.

Kasab has been charged with criminal conspiracy, waging war against nation, committing robbery and has also been under various other Indian Penal Code sections.

Kasab has also been charged with the murder of Mumbai police officials Hemant Karkare, Tukaram Ombale, Vijay Salaskar, and Ashok Kamte.

Kasab has been booked for direct involvement in seven cases and as a co-conspirator in five cases. He has also been indirectly charged with killing people at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). (ANI)