The trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist arrested in the 26/11 attacks, and two of his Indian accomplices is unlikely to begin on Monday as the security-related construction work at the special court inside Arthur Road Jail is yet to be completed.

Kasab will make his first appearance — via video-conferencing from Arthur Road Jail though — before Special Sessions Judge M L Tahilyani at the City Civil and Sessions Court on Monday. The court, however, is only expected to extend his judicial custody by another two weeks and may also decide on a lawyer to defend the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist.

Work is pending on the huge wall that will block the view of the special court from the outside and will protect the court room if grenades are hurled or rockets fired during the trial. The Public Works Department (PWD) is also working round-the-clock to complete the construction of a special cell for Kasab, which will also be explosive and bullet-resistant and where he will be kept once the trial begins.

Seeking postponement of the trial from March 23 to April 13, the prosecution filed an application before the special Sessions court here, saying fortification of the court inside the jail in central Mumbai was not yet complete.