Abbas Kazmi, Defence Lawyer

Abbas Kazmi came to Mumbai to try his luck in Bollywood. And he did act—Anjaan Rahen with Feroz Khan and Asha Parekh and Jugnoo with Dharmendra and Hema Malini—but didn’t make it big. So he decided to put his law degree to use and take up criminal cases instead.

Fifty four-year-old Abbas Kazmi, who represents Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, began his practice in 1993, when he defended those accused in the Bombay serial blasts case, including SP leader Abu Azmi and gangster Ejaz Pathan. He has also represented the accused in the murder of music baron Gulshan Kumar. Kazmi, a resident of Bandra, graduated in law from K.C. College, Mumbai, in 1980 but went to Jeddah, where he worked for a private company as financial advisor. Soon after he returned, the 1993 serial blasts happened and his office in Mahim was flooded with requests for representation from locals accused in the case.

Always well-dressed, Kazmi’s acting skills are often the target of good-natured jibes from prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and judge M.L. Tahaliyani, who often refer to them when Kazmi takes time to cross examine or uses a different line of cross examination.

Kazmi rates the Mumbai terror attack case as the most important of his legal career. He has two daughters and a son and says he agreed to defend Kasab only after discussing it with his family. “I had discussed the idea with them and they still support me. I just want to tell everyone that I am only answering the call of duty. Kasab needed a lawyer and the court appointed me and being a professional, why shouldn’t I defend him,” he asks.

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