Ex-Home official justifies prosecution

Deposing before the special court on Friday,Retired Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chitkala Zutshi on Friday said she had given the police department sanction for prosecuting lone arrested 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab and two co-accused after due application of the mind.

During cross-examination,defence lawyer Shahid Azmi tried to suggest that because of the magnitude of the attacks,Zutshi had accorded sanction without verifying details of the police application. She denied it saying,“I disagree with you.”

Zutshi had given the Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sanction to prosecute Kasab and the co-accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant Acts. Zutshi informed the special sessions court that the police department had sought the sanction from the home department and after applying the mind,she had given the sanction.