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Rediff.com  » News » The man who will now defend Kasab

The man who will now defend Kasab

By Prasanna D Zore
November 30, 2009 18:39 IST
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The man, who till some ago, played second-fiddle to advocate Abbas Kazmi shot into international limelight on Monday afternoon.

Additional Sessions Judge M L Tahaliyani appointed 55-year-old K P Pawar as 'accused number 1' Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab's lawyer after he sacked Kasab's defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi for 'non-cooperation'.

Kasab is the lone terrorist caught alive by the Mumbai Police after 10 gunmen wreaked mayhem in Mumbai November 26 last year in a siege that lasted four days and killed more than 160 people, including 18 policemen -- notable amongst them being ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte, senior police inspector Vijay Salaskar and police inspector Tukaram Omble.

Interestingly, Pawar will be the third advocate now defending Kasab in this 145-day old trial that began this April.

Kasab's first lawyer Anjali Waghmare withdrew from the case on the second day after more than 100 activists staged protests and pelted stones at her residence. Abbas Kazmi was then appointed as her replacement by the judge Tahaliyani.

A native of Kopergaon in the Ahmednagar district, Pawar finished his matriculation from Nashik. He then moved to Mumbai in 1973 where he did his BA in Honours from Mumbai University and later LLB in 1981.
Interestingly, Pawar has also done his MA in Marathi from Mumbai University in 1988.

"Now that the specials court judge has appointed me as Kasab's lawyer the pressure on me has increased manifold given the international character of the case," Pawar told a source close to him.

"My responsibilities too have increased from today, as I have promised the court to offer my level best in defending Kasab and fight a fair trial," he told this source.

Earlier, while appointing Pawar judge Tahaliyani too reposed his faith in Pawar's ability and competence.

"Pawar's hold over Marathi will surely work to his advantage over Kazmi as most of the documents are in Marathi," said a noted lawyer who's close to both Pawar and Kazmi and who obviously requested not to quote his name on the subject.

Cut to the task, Pawar immediately got back to work after the special court ended its proceedings on Monday at around 3.45 pm.

Pawar ensconced himself inside the court to study the documents in details keeping a bevy of eager media persons waiting for more than two hours. With over 12 years of experience as a practicing lawyer, Pawar began his legal career in 1997 after he took voluntary retirement as a senior officer from the Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika.

He contested cases of more than 40 accused in the communal carnage that engulfed Mumbai in 1992-93 after the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, which led to the acquittal of more than 20 accused.

Pawar, however, refused to comment on the dismissal of Abbas Kazmi whom he ably assisted for almost five months ever since the latter was appointed to defend Kasab.

"I have to put my best foot forward from tomorrow. I have to prepare myself for the challenging task ahead," said Pawar, who has till now fought over 400 cases in his capacity as a lawyer in Mumbai High Court, Sessions court and Metropolitan court.

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Prasanna D Zore in Mumbai