Kasab will be hanged in one year: Veerappa Moily

M.today

New Delhi, May 11: Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Amir Kasab’s appeal against his death sentence will be fasttracked, if the case goes in appeal, and he will be hanged within a year.

 

"Even if the case goes in appeal, it will and should be fasttracked. Kasab will be hanged in the next one year. He committed a barbaric act in front of so many witnesses," Moily told CNN-IBN news channel.

Earlier in the day, union Home Secretary GK Pillai said the chances of Kasab being hanged this year "are quite high" if he does not file a petition challenging his death sentence.

A special 26/11 trial court sentenced the lone surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attack to death May 6, 17 months after the mayhem that killed 166 people. Kasab was convicted on more than 80 charges, including waging war against the nation.

Kasab has the option of challenging the sentencing in higher courts. If the Supreme Court upholds the verdict, the 23-year-old can also file a mercy petition before President Pratibha Patil.

According to the home ministry, there are 28 mercy applications pending in the president’s office, including the one of 2001 parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Asked about the status of Guru’s case, Pillai said: "It is with the government for consideration. The government takes full responsibility of current pending cases."