The much awaited trial in the 26/11 terror attack case may not begin on Wednesday as the special court has to first decide a petition seeking to debar lawyer Anjali Waghmare from defending the lone surviving gunman, Mohammed Amir Ajmal Kasab, on grounds of "professional misconduct".

Waghmare, appointed by the court to defend Kasab, is mired in a controversy, which seems to put her in a tight spot in the wake of allegations that she had first accepted brief of a witness in this case before deciding to defend Kasab.

Citing public interest, Advocate K B N Lam has moved an application before the court alleging that Waghmare had accepted the brief from Harishchandra Shrivardhankar, who was victim of attack by Kasab and his team members at Cama hospital here on November 26 last year.

He is a prime witness in the case and was seeking compensation from the government for injuries sustained in his neck during the attack.

According to Lam, Waghmare had sought instructions from this witness and even signed a Vakalatnama to help him seek compensation. She had kept the court in dark about this development, Lam alleged.

He contended that Waghmare cannot accept brief of accused Kasab if she had decided to appear for a witness in the same case. Replying to Lam's allegation, Waghmare told the court on previous hearing that she had neither signed any Vakalatnama nor sought instructions from any witness in this case.

Thereupon, Lam insisted that she give an undertaking to this effect.

... contd.