By IANS,
Mumbai : Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani Monday held Pakistani Ajmal Amir Kasab guilty under nine Indian laws and their relevant sections or sub-sections for his role in the Mumbai terror attack.
Kasab has been convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, Indian Railway Act 1989, Indian Arms Act 1959, Indian Explosives Act 1884, Explosives Substances Act 1908, Customs Act 1962, and Prevention of Damage of Public Properties Act 1984.
Kasab faces a maximum penalty of death. The process of sentencing starts Tuesday.
The court also accepted the confession made by Kasab before a magistrate Feb 20-21, 2009.
The 42-page confession was made before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Rama V. Sawant-Wagule, detailing the Mumbai attack conspiracy, the plans, training of the terrorists, their voyage by sea from Karachi to Mumbai, and the storming of different targets in south Mumbai.
However, later in the court, Kasab denied the confession he had recorded before Sawant-Wagule.
Special Judge Tahaliyani, while pronouncing Kasab guilty, said: “In my court, I have examined ACMM Sawant-Wagule. The confession was voluntary and the magistrate had taken all the necessary precautions.
“His (Kasab’s) lawyer has filed for retraction. However, it is a ‘bald retraction’ (meaningless retraction). It is a retraction just for the sake of retraction. No reasons have been given whatsoever for the retraction,” the judge observed.