Kasab to stay at Arthur Road jail for some time
The Maharashtra government has decided not to shift Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the lone Pakistani gunman arrested during the 26/11 Mumbai attack, from the high-security Arthur Road prison here till the Supreme Court disposes of his appeal against the death penalty.
There was speculation that he would be shifted to Yerwada jail in Pune, the biggest prison in the state, for security reasons. Arthur Road prison mostly houses under-trial prisoners.
"Kasab has sent a proposal to the Supreme Court through the jailer, saying he wishes to appeal against the Bombay High Court judgement (which confirmed his death sentence).
The apex court is yet to accept the appeal. Until the Court takes it up and disposes of the case, Kasab would be at Arthur Road," said a senior state home department official.
The High Court, on February 21 this year, confirmed the death penalty awarded to Kasab by the trial court, while dismissing the government's appeal against acquittal of two Indian accused -- Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.
The home department was averse to shifting Kasab to Yerwada as it would require extra security measures there, though Yerwada has an egg-shaped cell (`Anda Cell'), the official said.
Kasab is currently in a solitary confinement in a bomb-proof egg-shaped cell at Arthur Road jail. Arthur Road jail is spread over two acres in central Mumbai and houses several criminals of the Mumbai underworld.
