Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi tendered an unconditional apology, on Friday, to the trial court hearing the Mumbai attack case for his remark that he did not care about affidavits of witnesses filed by the prosecution.
Accepting Kazmi's apology, Judge M L Tahaliyani also withdrew his observation that Kazmi was a liar. The judge had called him a liar as Kazmi denied that special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had stated in his opening address on May 8 that he would file affidavits of witnesses. Kazmi said, "This is a historic trial and I have done my best to defend the accused. What happened on Thursday was in the heat of the moment and I tender an unconditional apology."
The judge said that he was also withdrawing his remarks about Kazmi, as he wanted the issue to be resolved amicably. Kazmi offered apology after advocate Nikam intervened and sought time from the court to resolve the issue. The judge then adjourned proceedings for 40 minutes following which Kazmi decided to apologise.
In Friday's order, the judge said, "In the interests of justice the issue has been resolved amicably. Keeping in mind the submissions made by proseuctor and the defence lawyer, it can be said that the observations made by me on Thursday would not be taken into consideration."
Earlier,
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