Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer assigned to the prime accused in the Mumbai terror strike Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, was on Wednesday removed on grounds of "conflict of interest" by the Special Court hearing the case.
Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer assigned to the prime accused in the Mumbai terror strike Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, was on Wednesday removed on grounds of "conflict of interest" by the Special Court hearing the case.
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Judge M L Tahilyani said it was "highly inappropriate" behaviour on her part to keep the Special Court in the dark. It was a reference to Waghmare agreeing to represent a witness who has been listed to depose in the matter.
Her fate was sealed when Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitted a sealed cover, purported to contain a copy of her 'vakalatnama' agreeing to represent a witness, Harishchandra Shrivardhankar, in the case.
Waghmare is a government lawyer appointed by the Special Court from the Legal Aid Committee to represent Qasab, the only terrorist to be captured alive in the Mumbai terror carnage, as he had no lawyer nor could afford one.
The wife of a Mumbai Police official, Waghmare's appointment led to controversy with the Shiv Sena demonstrating outside her home in Worli. Later, with the intervention of top police and political officials and assurance of high security, she agreed to fight the case.
She could not be contacted as her mobile phone was switched off.
The trial in the case started on Wednesday under a blanket of security with hundreds of media personnel looking on. Qasab was scheduled to appear in the court, at the Arthur Road Jail complex where Qasab and the other two accused are kept behind bars.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
