Click to play videoMumbai: Angry crowds pelted stones at advocate Anjali Waghmare's house on Monday night to protest after she agreed to defend 26/11 terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Protestors included Shiv Sena party workers as well as residents from Waghmare's Worli Police camp- the same neighbourhood that lost police officers Shashank Shinde and Tukaram Ombale, the policeman who died making sure Kasab was captured alive that fateful attack.
“The Mumbai police have sacrificed their lives for our security so when a police officers wife from the Worli camp decided to take up the terrorists case the people became agitated,” says SS Vibhag Pramukh/Party Worker, Ajay Chowdhry.
Women party workers even went up to Waghmare's door demanding answers.
An hour later, Advocate Waghmare sent out this signed letter to the chief of the local Shiv Sena branch stating she is withdrawing from the case.
The mob dispersed only after local police arrived on the scene and lathi-charged them.
Shiv Sena's Madhukar Dalvi and Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Sena's Abhijeet Patil were detained by the police
Shiv sena legal counsel Rahul Narvekar defends his party saying the right to defend the accused, in this case, is a loophole in the system.
“We do not deny that everyone deserves legal counsel. You cannot stop a trial just because someone like is not getting a lawyer. His is an open and shut case so there should be no delay in justice,” says Rahul Narverkar.
But Home Minister Jayant Patil says Waghmare is still prepared to fight Kasab's case.
“We have to see that kasab gets fair trail and therefore he needs to get a correct lawyer. By doing so Shiv Sena is prolonging Kasab's case and hence they are acting against national interest,” says Home Minister, Maharashtra, Jayant Patil.
"The police officers who were in touch with Anjali have informed me that she is prepared to fight Kasab's case," adds Patil.
"We have provided her security now and there is no threat to her life. She doesn't want action to be taken against the Shiv Sena workers as they are known to her," Patil stated.
This is not the first time that a lawyer who has dared to accept the case has been harassed by political parties.
Waghmare's withdrawal could hamper the long-delayed trial.
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