Bombay HC defers hearing of Kasab's case till Sep 20

The Bombay High Court on Monday deferred the hearing on the confirmation of death penalty to Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, till September 20 after his lawyer sought more time to file an appeal against the judgement.

Kasab''s lawyer Amin Solkar, who appeared before the court on behalf of the convict sought more time to file an appeal against the judgement, saying that Kasab was unable to give any extra information to advocate his appeal and that his client was unable to recall anything

"Basically, when I asked Kasab, when the first time that I met him I had told him that, if you recollect anything which pertains to your appeal, which can help us in filing an appeal, so he told that you can arrange for a paper and a pen and I will do that. But on the second when we went there, he was totally blank," said Solkar.

"Kasab said that I can''t recollect anything, and he doesn''t want to remember. Because he tries to even apply pressure on his brains, he gets a very severe headache - that is what he says. So when I asked him when you keep on forgetting, what is the reason, so it was his allegation that probably in the food, or whatever he eats and drinks, probably there is something in it," he added.

Solkar further said Kasab even failed to recognise his defence lawyers.

"That is what he said, finally when I asked him that when we had come earlier, and had promised us that you are going to write and give it to us, he said that I can''t remember that we have met earlier," said Solkar.

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 Tahiliyani 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.