Terrorist's lawyer foregoes fee
Mumbai attacker's defense gives money to legal services groups
- Ritu Sharma, New Delhi
- India
- September 4, 2012
The lawyer who defended one of the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack has declined his 1.1 million rupee (US$20,000) fee.
Senior lawyer Raju Ramachandran asked for the fee to be donated to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee or another organization that works for poor litigants.
His junior Gaurav Aggarwal, who assisted him in the case, also refused his 350,000-rupee fee. The duo was appointed to defend Ajmal Kasab in at his death sentence appeal at the Supreme Court because he was not in a position to appoint an advocate.
The 25-year-old convicted terrorist and nine others attacked vital points in Mumbai, killing at least 173 people and injuring more than 300 in November 2008. Kasab was the only attacker taken alive by security forces.
Last week the court upheld his sentence. He was found guilty of 80 offences, including waging war against the nation, which is punishable by death.
“There is nothing great about not taking the fees. I don’t want to make a big deal about this whole issue,” Ramachandran told ucanews.com.
Ramachandran said that his decision has nothing to do with Kasab, as any senior lawyer would have done the same.
“I am privileged to serve the nation and complete the task the court had appointed me to do,” he said.
Initially, when the trial of the case began in April 2009 in a lower court in Mumbai, several lawyers refused to represent Kasab for ethical reasons.
A resolution was passed unanimously by the Bombay Metropolitan Magistrate Court's Bar Association, saying that none of its members would defend the accused.
Related Reports
Mumbai attacker loses court appeal
Senior lawyer Raju Ramachandran asked for the fee to be donated to the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee or another organization that works for poor litigants.
His junior Gaurav Aggarwal, who assisted him in the case, also refused his 350,000-rupee fee. The duo was appointed to defend Ajmal Kasab in at his death sentence appeal at the Supreme Court because he was not in a position to appoint an advocate.
The 25-year-old convicted terrorist and nine others attacked vital points in Mumbai, killing at least 173 people and injuring more than 300 in November 2008. Kasab was the only attacker taken alive by security forces.
Last week the court upheld his sentence. He was found guilty of 80 offences, including waging war against the nation, which is punishable by death.
“There is nothing great about not taking the fees. I don’t want to make a big deal about this whole issue,” Ramachandran told ucanews.com.
Ramachandran said that his decision has nothing to do with Kasab, as any senior lawyer would have done the same.
“I am privileged to serve the nation and complete the task the court had appointed me to do,” he said.
Initially, when the trial of the case began in April 2009 in a lower court in Mumbai, several lawyers refused to represent Kasab for ethical reasons.
A resolution was passed unanimously by the Bombay Metropolitan Magistrate Court's Bar Association, saying that none of its members would defend the accused.
Related Reports
Mumbai attacker loses court appeal
