Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 7, 2009
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/26/11-trial-Kasab-wants-to-plead-guilty-to-all-charges/articleshow/4867196.cms
Hours after informing a court that he wanted
to plead guilty to all the charges framed against him in connection with the
26/11 blasts, prime accused Ajmal Kasab changed his mind and said he did not
want to say anything.
When asked by special judge M L Tahailiyani
why he said he wanted to plead guilty in the morning session of the court,
Kasab replied, "Yun hi (Just like that)."
The court then asked if he was being influenced
by someone to admit his guilt, but the Pakistani gunman said he was not.
When the judge asked him whether he wanted
the trial to go on, 22-year-old Kasab replied: "Ji haan, aapki marzi
se (Yes sir, with your permission)."
As judge Tahaliyani expressed surprise over
Kasab's behaviour, defence counsel Abbas Kazmi said it was due to the auspicious
day of 'Shab-e-baraat (night of blessings)' which Muslims observed on Thursday
night. On this day people believe that if you confess, you are forgiven by
god, Kazmi told the court.
Later, Kazmi told reporters that Kasab was
frustrated and was under the impression that a verdict will be given if he
pleads guilty to all charges.
"I have explained to him that despite
his pleading guilty to all charges the trial will go on because there are
two other accused in the dock," Kazmi said.
In the morning when a witness was being examined,
Kasab stood up in the dock and told Tahaliyani that he wanted to plead guilty.
However, the court felt that Kasab was being
very vague about his admission of guilt and was asked to talk with his lawyer
before doing so.
Outside the court, special public prosecutor
Ujjwal Nikam said Kasab was a great actor and had not only obtained military
training from conspirators in Pakistan, but had also received training on
how to mislead others.
"The moment we informed the court that
FBI officials will be examined as witnesses, Kasab got up to say he wanted
to plead guilty to all charges," he said.
This was done by Kasab to save his masters
in Pakistan and it showed that the gunman did not want the prosecution to
table evidence which FBI has collected in this case, Nikam claimed.
"Kasab's act will not affect the case
and we shall conclude the trial within a month," he said.
Kasab had admitted his guilt before the court
last month, but the court had decided to take the admission of guilt on record
and continue with the trial.
The Pakistani gunman was reprimanded by the
court on Thursday after he refused to accept food served by jail authorities
and threw utensils given to him allegedly demanding he be served 'mutton biryani'.