Qasab booked for travelling without a ticket

Ajmal Amir Qasab, who killed scores in one of the deadliest terror attacks the world has seen, has been booked for, among other things, travelling without a ticket, as reported in the Mumbai Mirror.

Qasab and his accomplice Mohammed Ismail Khan killed 59 people at CST on November 26, 2008. Qasab was captured while policemen gunned down Khan. Qasab has been booked under various provisions of the Railways Act, one being Section 137 (travelling without ticket), as the duo had not bought platform tickets before stepping onto the platform.

Crime Branch chief Rakesh Maria said, "Qasab has been booked for murder, Arms Act, Explosives Act, Passport Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, car theft and various sections of the Railways Act. One among them is for entering the station without a platform ticket."

If convicted under the offence, Qasab faces imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both.

According to Crime Branch officers, to an accused who faces such serious charges as of waging war against the country and murder such petty charges wouldn't be much of a bother.

"But since it is a formality that has to be completed, it has been done. It is the duty of the investigating agency to include every offence, small or big, connected with the incident," said an officer privy to the investigation.

The Crime Branch is expected to include these offences in the charge sheet that may be filed in the next two days. The charge sheet, composed in English, Marathi and Hindi, is being translated into Urdu for the convenience of Qasab.

Crime Branch would not be filing separate chargesheets for co-accused Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin, who are suspected of conducted the recce for the attacks.

"There will be only one charge sheet in the case and offences of Fahim and Sabahuddin will be included the main charge sheet being filed," said Maria.

Meanwhile, all precautions are being taken to maintain absolute secrecy about the date and time of filing the charge sheet because, unlike previous occasions when a magistrate visited the Crime Branch lock-up to deal with Qasab's case, he will have to be taken to court.

The Crime Branch has planned elaborate security measures, as there is a threat to Qasab's life from the underworld and the Pakistan's ISI.

Qasab has been booked under the Railways Act. If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 6 mths or a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both