New lawyer Pawar takes charge of Kasab's case

Mumbai, Dec 1 (ANI): K P Pawar has been appointed as the new lawyer to represent 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Ajmal Kasab and will take charge of his duties in court from today.

A special court, conducting the trial of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, had on Monday sacked Kasab's earlier lawyer Abbas Kazmi on grounds of non-cooperation.

This is the second time that Kasab's lawyer has been changed. Earlier, Anjali Waghmare had been dismissed in April this year for conflict of interest.

Pawar is not known to have handled any high profile cases till date, but he has been following the case ever since the trial began.

Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had on Monday said the court was constrained to remove Kazmi, as he did not submit to the court's order.

"Kazmi did not submit to the court's order. So, the court has ultimately asked him, whether he would like to withdraw from the case or he would like to assist the court or whether the court should take further action in the matter. Kazmi refused to withdraw from the case, and did not cooperate.

The court, as a result, was constrained to cancel his appointment," he said.

Judge M.L. Tahilyani has ordered Kazmi to hand over all the documents of the case to Pawar. The court has also asked Pawar to choose a lawyer to assist him.

The attacks, which began on November 26, 2008 and lasted nearly three days, left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen. (ANI)