HC likely to decide date for verdict in Kasab case tomorrow

Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI) The case relating to confirmationof death sentence awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasabfor his role in 26/11 terror attacks is in its final stageswith the Bombay High Court likely to fix tomorrow the date fordelivering the verdict.

On January 7, arguments concluded in the casefollowing which Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More reservedorder and kept the matter for directions on February 7.

The judges are likely to pronounce the date for theverdict when case comes up tomorrow, High Court sources said.

Along with the verdict on confirmation of deathpenalty, the Hight Court would also give judgement on anappeal filed by Kasab against his conviction and also on theappeal filed by Maharashtra Government against acquittal ofco-accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the same case.

Arguments on these matters began on October 17 lastand were heard on a day-to-day basis by the court except forbrief periods during Diwali and Christmas holidays.

For the first time, a video conference link was put upin the Court for hearing appeals. Cameras were installed incourt room no 49 to enable Kasab hear proceedings from jail.

Justifying death penalty to Kasab, Prosecutor UjjwalNikam displayed photographs and CDs showing him in terror actsand questioned the trial court''s order which accepted Kasab''sconfession partially, saying it should be considered in toto.

Defence lawyer Amin Solkar argued that Kasab was not aterrorist and said photos were morphed. The CDs were not clearand showed some other person looking similar to Kasab. Healleged that police encounter at Girgaum was stage-managed toimplicate Kasab and denied the gunman had killed policemenHemant Karkare, Ashok Kamate and Vijay Salaskar.