Kasab's statement is 'admission of guilt'

The judge made the observation at the end of Kasab’s statement on events, admitting his involvement in the crime.

The judge refused to call it as a “confession” and rather preferred to term it as “an admission of guilt.”

What follows now is for the court to verify whether Kasab is genuinely pleading guilty as there are a number of charges including murder and attempt to murder against him.

Verification

Based on its verification, the court will then either accept or reject Kasab’s statement or accept his plea and continue with the trial.

In the beginning of the trial, Kasab had pleaded not guilty to all charges and even retracted his “confession” made before a magistrate, as required under the law.

Kasab’s government-appointed defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi too clarified that his client’s admissions could not be treated as a confession.

“Kasab was merely replying to the questions asked by the judge. This can’t be treated as confession to the crime. The mention of Indian link needed to be probed,” Kazmi said.