Maharashtra may appeal against acquittal of Kasab ‘allies’

Expressing unhappiness over the acquittal by the Bombay high court of two Indian accused in the 26/11 case (See: HC upholds Kasab's death penalty; two acquitted), Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan today said his government will file an appeal against the judgement in the Supreme Court.

He termed as ''historic'' the upholding of the death sentence of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab by the court, saying, ''It signifies the triumph of the Indian judicial system, Indian democracy that we could conduct a free and fair trial in this highly emotive case.''

Chavan said while the court confirmed Kasab's capital punishment, ''we are unhappy that our appeal against the two accused persons was not upheld by the high court''.

The chief minister said, ''I have discussed the matter with government pleader Ujjwal Nikam and the government will appeal against the acquittal of the two accused persons in the Supreme Court.''

The high court dismissed the Maharashtra government's petition against the acquittal of two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, accused of aiding the commission of the crime.

Chavan also appealed to the union government to bring international pressure on Pakistan to unearth the Mumbai attacks conspiracy and bring the guilty to book.

''We are very unhappy that while India has gone ahead and conducted the trial in a very transparent manner, the trial has not even begun in Pakistan. I appeal to the Union government to bring all the international pressure on Pakistan to unearth the conspiracy, bring the guilty to book and punish the guilty,'' he said.

He observed that the Maharashtra government would take all necessary action to make sure that such an incident does not recur.

He also complimented Nikam for having concluded the 26/11 case in the high court in a period of less than three months.