Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested in the November 26, 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, appeared relaxed throughout the proceedings of his case during his maiden appearance in a special court at the Arthur Road jail on Wednesday.

Clad in a dark grey T-shirt and black track suit, the alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative was brought to the court amid tight security at 11.30 am. Two other accused in the case, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, were the next to arrive. The accused were brought to the court from a separate entrance, which was heavily guarded till the end of the proceedings.

After entering the courtroom surrounded by policemen carrying automatic weapons, Kasab greeted the judge by saying “salaam”. He then looked around and smiled at the media and police personnel present. In the second-half of the proceedings when Kasab was produced he greeted the court with a ‘namaste’. In the packed courtroom, he kept chatting with Fahim and eventually Sabahuddin was made to sit between Kasab and Fahim after Judge M L Tahilyani objected to their conversation.

Sporting a beard, Kasab listened to the arguments and seemed to understand as he smiled and nodded his head every time lawyers made their submissions.

When the court asked him about whether he would like to say anything, Kasab said, “Mujhein jo bhi kehna hai woh mein apne vakil sahiba sai kahunga (whatever I have to say I will say through my lawyer).” When the court asked whether he knew who his lawyer was, he pointed to a court staff. The court then introduced him to Anjali Waghmare and asked why he did not recognise her as she was introduced to him during the video-conferencing. Kasab smiled and said “bhul gaya (I forgot)”.

... contd.