New Delhi: Ajmal Kasab, awarded the death sentence last month by a special court for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attack, has written to the free legal aide committee seeking the appointment of a lawyer for him.
The law allows Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive in the November 2008 attack, to appeal against the death sentence in the High Court. He also has recourse thereafter to an appeal in the Supreme Court and even a Presidential pardon.
Kasab handed the letter to the jail superintendent, who has forwarded it to the legal aide committee. The committee will appoint a lawyer, who will study the case and then appeal in the High Court. The entire process is expected to take at least two weeks.
Ajmal Kasab has asked for a lawyer to help him challenge the death sentence given to him in May for helping to execute the 26/11 attack in Mumbai in 2008.
Kasab, a Pakistani, was the only terrorist caught alive during the attacks. Nine others were killed.
Kasab was tried by a special court at the Arthur Road jail, where he was kept after 26/11 in a bulletproof, bomb-proof cell.
He has written to the Free Legal Aid Committee asking for a lawyer to help him fight the death sentence. Legal experts say this is Kasab's first step in a formal appeal in the Mumbai High Court against the verdict and the sentence against him.
Judge ML Tahaliyani had found him guilty of waging war against India, of conspiracy to murder. 166 people died in the Mumbai attacks.
Standard procedure requires the Mumbai High Court to ratify the death sentence given by Tahaliyani to Kasab.