New Delhi: Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam recalled several incidents from the trial of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Amir Kasab on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, following which the host and veteran Indian film megastar Amitabh Bachchan reacted sharply. Nikam appeared on the show with actors Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi to promote their upcoming film “Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam”.
Bachchan asked Nikam why Kasab was executed nearly four years after the 2008 attacks. “Itna waqt kyun laga?” the actor asked, to which Nikam explained that Kasab had to be prosecuted according to law and given the opportunity to defend himself.
According to Nikam, Kasab initially claimed that he had not been arrested in connection with the 26/11 attacks and instead said that he had been picked up at Juhu Chowpatty on November 6. He then told Bachchan that Kasab had allegedly claimed he came to Mumbai to see the actor. “Aapko tajjub hoga jo aage usne kaha tha ki main toh Amitabh ji ko dekhne ke liye aaya tha (You will be surprised by what he said next, he said that he had come to see Amitabh.),” Nikam said.
Bachchan immediately responded, “Nahi nahi, sir agar woh aaya hoga toh woh hamare ghar se jaane wala nahi tha. Wahi hum goli maar dete use (no, sir. If he had come, he wouldn’t have left our house. We would have shot him right there.).”
Nikam recalls Kasab’s claims during trial
Nikam said Kasab made several claims during the proceedings in an attempt to challenge the case against him. According to the prosecutor, Kasab claimed that he was a minor and that he had been arrested by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), India’ foreign intelligence agency, making his age an issue that had to be established through legal and medical procedures.
Nikam also recalled Kasab’s conduct during the later stages of the case. He said Kasab appeared before the Bombay high court through videoconferencing after receiving the death sentence from the trial court and, during the hearing, Kasab spat towards the camera.
Nikam further said the prosecution confronted Kasab with evidence when he attempted to deny responsibility for the shootings. He recalled CCTV footage being shown during the proceedings and alleged that Kasab was seen laughing in footage connected to the shooting of a young girl.
According to Nikam, Kasab was also familiar with legal arguments and understood the protections available to an accused under Indian law. He said the case had to proceed through the rule of law despite public anger over the attacks.
Who is Ujjwal Nikam?
Ujjwal Deorao Nikam is a senior Indian special public prosecutor known for handling some of the country’s most high-profile murder and terrorism cases. He led the prosecution in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial against Ajmal Amir Kasab, which ended with Kasab’s conviction and death sentence.
After the Bombay high court upheld the sentence, Nikam summed up the long trial with a line aimed at Kasab: “Badle tune rang bahut, bahut badle naqab; fansi tak humne tujhe la hi diya, Kasab (You changed your colours many times, you changed your masks many times; but we took you all the way to the gallows, Kasab).” He was referring to the different versions and claims Kasab made during the proceedings before ultimately being sentenced to death.
Nikam has also prosecuted cases linked to the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the Gulshan Kumar murder and the Pramod Mahajan murder. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the president of India in 2025 in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the field of law.
Kasab, the only 26/11 terrorist captured alive, was convicted of multiple offences including murder and waging war against India. On appeal his death sentence was upheld and he was executed at the Yerwada central jail in Pune on 21 November 2012.