The Bombay High Court on Tuesday appointed two advocates to represent Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab in his appeal against the death sentence awarded to him by a special sessions court in the 26/11 case.
Acting Chief Justice J.N. Patel, who is the executive chairman of the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), has nominated Amin Solkar as Kasab's “legal aid counsel.” Advocate Farhana Shah will assist Mr. Solkar “I received the letter only today [Tuesday] and I am accepting the nomination. Only after I receive the papers and the brief will I know when I file the appeal,” Mr. Solkar told The Hindu over telephone. In the context of the backlash against lawyers who represented the gunman in the past, Mr. Solkar said that “at present” he had not sought police protection.
The MSLSA letter says the nominations have been made following Kasab's application “to this office for legal aid. It transpired that the convict is intending to ventilate his grievance before the appellate forum against the death sentence.”
Meanwhile, the higher court has still to send a confirmation of the death sentence, delivered by the sessions court, to the State. The State, on its part, is slated to appeal against the acquittal of the other two accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed.
