Kasab death sentence upheld by high court

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The Bombay high court on Monday confirmed the death sentence of lone surviving 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Aamir Kasab, saying it had no option but to confirm the death penalty awarded by the trial court. Any other sentence would be inadequate for the “rarest of rare” crime by the accused, who had no scope of reformation.

The court also upheld the acquittal of the other two accused, Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Shaikh, as determined by the trial court.
Kasab did not show any remorse when confirmation of the death sentence was announced. On the contrary, he was seen grinning when told about the order via video-conferencing.
Kasab is now likely to be shifted to a special high-security cell at Pune’s Yerawada Jail from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail.
The division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and R.V. More observed: “The punishment must befit the crime. It must reflect public abhorrence of the crime. The rights of the victims must also be kept in mind. We are of the opinion that in this case, the lone mitigating circumstance — Kasab’s young age — must be receded to the background. We feel there is no alternative but to confirm the death sentence. This is, indeed, a rarest of rare case ... for which the sentence of life imprisonment is inadequate.
The court confirmed the death penalty on five counts, including murder, waging war against the nation and participating in conspiracy, among others.