Nikam gets lion’s share of legal fees: Rs 9 lakhs

MUMBAI: While the security cover for Amir Ajmal Kasab costs a bomb, the legal expenditure on the 26/11 convict is a neat packet too. But the amount will not be equally apportioned among the prosecution and the defence lawyers.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam is entitled to a special fee of over Rs 10,000 a day. However, the fee for each of Kasab's court-appointed defence lawyers is probably a tenth of Nikam's compensation.

The Bombay High Court appointed in June Amin Solkar and Farhana Shah as Kasab's defence lawyers during his death confirmation hearing and that of his appeal against conviction. Neither lawyer has been paid a rupee yet.

"We have been too busy with the case to think of remuneration," said Shah after the HC dismissed Kasab's appeal and confirmed his death penalty on Monday.

Though they do not know their entitlement, the defence lawyers will probably be paid the equivalent of what a government pleader or a public prosecutor is entitled to for death confirmation proceedings. This amounts to Rs 1,000 per day of hearing, which means that for about 90 days of hearing, while Nikam will get Rs 9 lakh, Solkar and Shah will get less than Rs 1 lakh each.