'Kasab never meant to go to Chowpatty'

Special court Judge M L Tahiliyani said, "it appears that accused number one, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab and deceased accused number one, Abu Ismail never meant to go to Chowpatty."

The prosecution had adduced evidence that the map obtained on Abu Ismail's dead body was prepared by Faheem Ansari. "The map theory does not fit into the scheme of the conspirators," said the judge, about the prosecution's plea that these maps helped the terrorists find their way from Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Cama hospital and further on towards Chowpatty.

The judge said Abu Ismail's trousers, which were produced in court, were stained with blood all over and therefore the map obtained from his pocket should also have blood on it. The judge had sought the opinion of an expert scientist in this regard.

As the judgement was being delivered, Fahim's wife Yasmeen was seen weeping quietly on the last bench.