26/11 case: Bombay HC to take up Kasab's hearing today

Mumbai, Oct 18 (ANI): The Bombay High Court will hear from today the arguments on confirmation of death sentence awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab for his role in the 26/11 attacks.

State's counsel Ujjwal Nikam will open arguments on the confirmation of death sentence awarded to Kasab.

The hearing, on a day-to-day basis, would begin in the court of Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More.

Though a confirmation case requires the convict to be present during the hearings, but due to security reasons and as per the directive of the earlier court order, Kasab will be produced through video conferencing from his high-security prison cell in Arthur Road jail.

The court is also likely to hear the state's plea against the acquittal of Kasab's co-accused Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, who were acquitted for lack of evidence.

A Mumbai Special Court on May 6 sentenced Kasab to death on four counts. Judge M L Tahiliyani awarded death sentence for Kasab on-waging war against India, murder, conspiracy to murder, and participating in an act of terror under Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA). Judge Tahaliyani felt that Kasab"s crime fell under the judicial definition of 'rarest of rare'.Kasab, who is the 52nd prisoner on death row in India, was also awarded life term on five other counts.(ANI)