Kasab got a fair trial: Maharashtra to SC

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government opened its arguments before the Supreme Court on Wednesday and said imposition of death penalty on Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case was warranted because he and his associates wantonly caused death and destruction on an unprecedented scale.

Arguing for deterrent punishment in cases of terror attacks involving largescale destruction of life and property, senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam said, "We as a country have to look at the future. No nation can allow itself to be cut again and again. The level of tolerance of the people of the country is severely tested by terrorist attacks. To send a signal against mindless killings, the punishment must be severe."

Subramaniam and prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam contested amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran's charge that the lone surviving gunman from Pakistan neither got expeditious legal assistance nor a fair trial. The amicus had also argued that Kasab did not deserve death penalty.

The counsel for Maharashtra government presented an overview of the terror attack that was masterminded and monitored from Pakistan and lasted for four days at crucial locations in the commercial hub of the country.

Subramaniam told a bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Chandramauli Kumar Prasad that legal aid was offered to Kasab the moment proceedings commenced against him.

When he narrated the dramatic arrest of Kasab near Bicholi Chowpatty by Mumbai police, the bench asked him, "Where were they heading in the Skoda vehicle? What were their plans?"

Subramaniam said another terrorist Abu Ismail was killed and Kasab arrested in that operation. However, he expressed inability to explain the motive of Kasab and his accomplice though he surmised that they were probably heading towards Malabar Hill area to cause similar destruction.

"They might be moving towards Malabar Hill area to do something sinister. But that is a guess I do not want to hazard. They were laden with explosives," he said. The arguments will continue on Thursday.