Mumbai: The confession of Abdul Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive for the Mumbai terror attacks, has left lawyers wondering whether he wants to unburden his guilt or is it a ploy.
Ujwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor in the case, on Monday admitted he was "surprised" at the "unexpected" confession for the first time in the court and claimed it was a big victory for the prosecution.
He said Kasab may have realised that the "cat is out of the bag" after 134 witnesses gave evidence against him since the trial began in April.
But criminal lawyer Satish Manishinde urged caution saying it should be known whether the "belated" confession was voluntary and whether Kasab was coerced or got any instructions even though there was "clinching evidence to his involvement.
The action of the Pakistani national pleading guilty on the 65th day of his trial in the high security Arthur road prison left those in the special court shocked.
Judge M L Tahiliyani, who was apparently taken aback, called lawyers from both sides to figure out the significance of Kasab's statement.
"We are surprised that Kasab has abruptly taken this stand (of confessing to involvement in 26/11 attacks)," said Nikam.
"Everybody in the court was shocked the moment he said he accepts his crime. It was unexpected," he said. "We are minutely assessing what he admitted in court."
Harish Salve, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, said it is not clear if Kasab confessed voluntarily. "I hope it is not a ploy and he doesn't come the day after and give it another twist," said Salve.
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