The suspense is over. Ajmal Kasab is a lier. Accepting the evidence submitted by the prosecution, based on reports of the jail superintendent Swati Sathe and doctors, the special sessions court Judge M.L. Tahiliyani declared that Ajmal Kasab is not a minor as claimed by him.
Declining relief under Juvenile Justice Act, the court declared that Kasab’s case would be heard by the same court as the tests had proved that he is not a minor.
In any case, Kasab’s statements to a doctor in Nair Hospital and the jail superintendent indicating that he is an adult are admissible as evidence under the Indian Evidence Act.
Ajmal Kasab is the lone survivor among the 10 terrorists who came to Mumbai by the sea route from Karachi to carry out one of the deadliest terror attacks in Indian history which has come to be known as the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. All his accomplices were gunned down by Indian security forces.
The Ossification and dental test reports conclusively prove that Kasab above 20 years of age and, therefore, not even a marginal case as was being made out. This nails Kasab’s lie and the defence lawyer Abbas Kaszmi’s argument that Kasab’s age was manipulated by the police to prevent the case from being tried in a juvenile court.
Now that Kasab’s lie has been nailed, he should not be allowed to go scot-free. Kasab should be charged with perjury for lying under oath with a view to delay court proceedings.
Similarly, Kasab’s demand for flavoured tooth paste, perfume and such other things should be turned down. He should be treated like any Indian if he were to be tried for similar charges.
He has also made things difficult by demanding that the 10,000 page report submitted to the court be translated into Urdu and a copy provided to him for perusal. It would also be interesting to investigate whether a perverted mind of a man such as Kasab who is alleged to have sprayed bullets indiscriminately on dozens of hapless people can think up these ploys or whether he is being spoon fed by some fertile mind.
Though Kasab can be pronounced guilty only after conviction, there is no reason to spend tax payer’s money to accord special treatment to Kasab. There is damning evidence against him. So, we should treat him like any other terrorist till we have the final verdict on this case.
Kasab faces extremely charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India.
We may have a watertight case against Kasab. But, that is no reason to overlook the possibility of charging him for perjury. Kasab must get a fair trial. And, he must be seen as having got a fair trial. The trial must be carried out without any undue delay. And, if Kasab is pronounced guilty, his punishment should follow immediately instead of hanging in balance for years as we have seen in the past.
Sometimes, it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. If the perjury charge qualifies for being the “last straw,” be it so!
