Bombay HC''s verdict on Kasab''s fate tomorrow

Justifying death sentence to Kasab, Nikam said the strikes were outcome of a single conspiracy hatched by LeT.

Kasab and his accomplices were instructed by LeT handlerson telephone to hold as many hostages as possible to demandfrom the Indian Government liberation of Kashmir and creationof a separate state for Muslims, Nikam contended in support ofthe charge of "waging war against the nation".

"With this objective in mind, Kasab and his team mate AbuIsmael had headed towards Malabar Hill area, where VIPs suchas High Court judges, ministers and governor reside, to holdVIPs as hostages to fulfill their demands," Nikam said.

Nikam argued the trial court had erred in partiallyaccepting the confession of Kasab made before a Magistratewhich should have been accepted in toto. Kasab''s act ofretracting his confession was an "after-thought" and"well-advised".

In the appeal, Kasab argued police had staged a falseencounter at Girgaum Chowpatty on November 26, 2008, toimplicate him in the crime. He even denied having killedMaharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, IPS officer Ashok Kamteand encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar during the attack.

Kasab''s lawyer Amin Solkar relied on the observation oftrial court that bullets recovered from bodies of Karkare andSalaskar did not tally with weapons of Kasab and Ismaelalthough bullets in Kamte''s body matched with Ismael''s rifle.

Kasab appeared in the High Court on screen through videoconference only on few occasions. Once he spat at the cameraand told the judges that he wanted to be tried in a US court.

However, he did not elaborate. (More) PTI SVS SK RSY