by Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 1: A day after seeking time to consider appearing in the 26/11 attacks trial, advocate Anjali Waghmare on Wednesday informed a special court that she was willing to represent arrested terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Waghmare had on Tuesday asked the court for a day to think over whether she wanted to represent Kasab following protests by Shiv Sena activists outside her residence in Worli after she was appointed defence counsel by the special court.
She had also given a letter to Sena activists on Monday apologising for taking up the representation of Kasab and said she would withdraw from the case.
Special judge M L Tahiliyani on Wednesday asked Waghmare if she had any problem with continuing as defence counsel for Kasab, a resident of Faridkot in Pakistan.
"No, I will continue with the case," Waghmare said.
The court then appointed advocate K P Pawar, also an advocate from the Maharashtra Legal Services Authority, to assist her in the case.
Judge Tahiliyani said that adequate security had been provided for Waghmare, who along with Pawar, will appear for Kasab for the trial which is scheduled to begin on April 6.
According to reports yesterday. She will be provided with Z+ level security and asked for cases against the protestors to be withdrawn.
Z+ level security is typically provided by members of the elite National Security Guard force in New Delhi and is reserved for politicians or public figures who have been targeted by a specific threat.