Waghmare seeks a day to decide over representing Kasab

Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer appointed to represent lone terrorist arrested in 26/11 attack Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, today told the special court that she needed a day to consider whether she would appear in the case following protests at her residence yesterday.

"I am under a lot of pressure. Give me one day to decide and think over it," an emotional Waghmare told special judge M L Tahiliyani.

"The media has exaggerated and is saying that I have taken the case up voluntarily. There were more than 300 persons outside my house yesterday," she told the court.

Asking the media to give the correct message to the public, Waghmare said the mob outside her house had questioned how she could represent Kasab despite being a police official's wife.

Waghmare, an advocate from the Maharashtra legal aid, was appointed by the court yesterday to represent Kasab in the upcoming trial of the terrorist on April 6.

"Why has not media gone to Uddhav Thackeray over the attack? Who is the mob to decide whether the trial will go on or not?" Waghmare said.

After hearing the advocate, Special Judge M L Tahiliyani observed that Waghmare had been appointed by the court and she was merely following the court's order.

Following the protest outside the Waghmare's residence it had become necessary for the court to examine whether contempt of court proceedings could be issued against arrested members of the mob for obstructing the court's proceedings by threatening the lawyer, Tahiliyani said.

The court was informed that an FIR had been registered against arrested persons under sections 143, 147, 506 and 509 of the IPC and senior police inspector of Worli police station was directed to file a detailed report on the matter.

The court also said that it would pass an order regarding the appointment of a lawyer to assist Waghmare tomorrow after she decided on whether to continue representing Kasab during the trial.

The trial of Kasab, a resident of Faridkot in Pakistan, and two others is expected to begin on April 6 for their alleged involvement in the November 26 Mumbai terror strikes in which over 180 persons were killed.