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{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abbas Kazmi
| image =
| imagesize =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1955|5|18}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Lawyer
| salary =
| networth =
| yearsactive = 1993–present
| othername =
| spouse =
| children = 3
| website = {{URL|abbaskazmi.com}}
}}
'''Abbas Kazmi''' (born 18 May 1955<ref name=Profile>{{cite web|url=http://abbaskazmi.com/profile.html |title=Abbas Kazmi Profile |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref>) is a criminal lawyer who received wide media coverage for representing [[Ajmal Kasab]], the prime accused in the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26/11 Mumbai terror attacks]]. He was a participant in [[Bigg Boss]].

==Biography==
Kazmi first came to Mumbai as an aspiring actor and worked in a few films such as ''Anjaan Rahen'', with [[Feroz Khan (actor, born 1939)|Feroz Khan]] and [[Asha Parekh]], and ''Jugnoo'', with [[Dharmendra]] and [[Hema Malini]]. He found little success in acting and so decided to go into law practice.<ref name=Cast/>

After graduating in 1980 from [[K.C. College|K.C. College, Mumbai]],<ref name=Cast/> Kazmi moved to [[Jeddah]], Saudi Arabia. There he worked as a financial advisor. He moved back to Mumbai in 1993 and soon represented several suspects in the [[1993 Mumbai bombings|1993 Mumbai bomb blast]] case. Other clients of his include [[Samajwadi Party]] leader [[Abu Asim Azmi]]<ref name=Life/> and suspects in the case of [[Gulshan Kumar]]'s murder.<ref name=Cast>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/26-11-the-courtroom-cast/494129/0 |title=26/11 The courtroom cast |date=26 July 2009 |author=Mustafa Plumber |newspaper= [[Indian Express]] |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

Kazmi was married in 1985. He has two daughters and one son. The name of his children are Anna, Samah and Ali.<ref name=Life>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-17/mumbai/28021434_1_abbas-kazmi-serial-blasts-child-abuse-case |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212081213/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-17/mumbai/28021434_1_abbas-kazmi-serial-blasts-child-abuse-case |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2013 |title=26/11 was despicable, but I have a job to do |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=17 April 2009 |author=Kartikeya |author2=Swati Deshpande |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

==2008 Mumbai attack case==
{{Main|2008 Mumbai attacks}}
In April 2009, Kazmi was appointed as the [[defence lawyer]] in the trial of the main accused in the Mumbai attack, [[Ajmal Kasab|Kasab]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/17/stories/2009041760571300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420105035/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/17/stories/2009041760571300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2009 |title=Ajmal 'Kasab' gets a new lawyer |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 April 2009 |accessdate= 9 February 2012}}</ref> The previously appointed lawyer, Anjali Waghmare,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2009/apr/01mumterror-anjali-waghmare-will-represent-kasab.htm |title=26/11 case: Anjali Waghmare will represent Kasab |date=1 April 2009 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> was removed from the case due to conflict of interest: she was also representing a victim in the same case.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-15/india/28044022_1_advocate-anjali-waghmare-k-p-pawar-mohammad-ajmal-kasab |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701133814/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-15/india/28044022_1_advocate-anjali-waghmare-k-p-pawar-mohammad-ajmal-kasab |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2012 |title=Anjali Waghmare removed as Kasab's lawyer |date=15 April 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref> Kasab had asked for Pakistani lawyers to represent him at his trial, but a lack of response from Pakistani officials and the resulting delay resulted in Kazmi's appointment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/apr/15/mumterror-smiling-kasab-demands-pakistani-lawyer.htm |title=Smiling Kasab demands Pakistani lawyer |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date=15 April 2009 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=658299 |title=After Waghmare Kasab Wants a Pakistani Lawyer |magazine=[[Outlook India]] |date=15 April 2009 |accessdate=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502000643/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=658299 |archivedate=2 May 2014 }}</ref> In various interviews, Kazmi made his position clear by saying that he will defend his client to perform his professional duty sincerely.<ref name=Life/><ref name=Big>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-12/tv/28259314_1_kasab-toh-lawyer |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103075348/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-12/tv/28259314_1_kasab-toh-lawyer |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |author=Divya Pal |title=People are angry with me for Kasab: Kazmi |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=12 October 2010 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

During the case proceedings, Kazmi tried explaining to Kasab the seriousness of the case against him. Kazmi stated: "I tried explaining it to him including the extent of the punishment he faces but he failed to see the gravity of the situation".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/court-appoints-abbas-kazmi-as-kasabs-new-lawyer/90394-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001831/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/court-appoints-abbas-kazmi-as-kasabs-new-lawyer/90394-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 May 2014 |title=Court appoints Abbas Kazmi as Kasab's lawyer |date=16 April 2009 |publisher=[[IBN Live]] |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref> Kazmi was provided police security during the trial. On 6 May 2010, Kasab was sentenced to death by the court;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8664179.stm|title= Mumbai attack gunman Kasab sentenced to death|date=6 May 2010|work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=7 May 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100508141053/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8664179.stm| archivedate= 8 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> on 21 February 2011, [[Bombay High Court]] upheld the sentence given by the trial court.<ref>{{cite news |title=26/11: Bombay HC confirms Kasab's death sentence |newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |date=21 February 2011 |url= http://www.indianexpress.com/news/26-11-bombay-high-court-confirms-death-to-kasab/752675/0 |accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

Kasab appealed the Bombay High Court's decision in the [[Supreme Court of India]] in October 2011. He claimed at this point that he had been "brainwashed like a robot [to commit the act] in the name of Allah".<ref name=WikiLeaks>{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/wikileaks-ajmal-kasab-us-26-11-mumbai-terrorist-attacks/1/154812.html |title=US wanted Kasab's lawyer to build case for his freedom: WikiLeaks |magazine= [[India Today]] |date=14 October 2011 |author=Aman Sharma |location=New Delhi |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref> Kazmi, however, had dismissed this theory during the trial. According to an American diplomatic cable exposed by [[WikiLeaks]], during Kasab's trial a US diplomat had asked Kazmi to build a case based on a [[brainwashing]] plea.<ref name=WikiLeaks /> The unnamed diplomat suggested to the attorney that he call Kasab's parents in Pakistan as witnesses to the assertion. Kazmi declined the request on the basis that there was no money for travel arrangements for Kasab's parents. He also said, "I am an Indian citizen. I am not going to contact anyone in Pakistan."<ref name=WikiLeaks/>

== Bigg Boss ==
{{Main|Bigg Boss (season 14)}}
Kazmi appeared in season 4 of the reality show ''Bigg Boss'', the Indian version of ''[[Big Brother (TV series)|Big Brother]]''. He was eliminated in the first week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-09/tv/28247616_1_bigg-boss-abbas-kazmi-contestants |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707182031/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-09/tv/28247616_1_bigg-boss-abbas-kazmi-contestants |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2012 |title=Abbas Kazmi out of Bigg Boss 4 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 October 2010 |accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref>

== Television ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Name !! Role !! Channel !! Notes !! Ref
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 4)|Bigg Boss 4]]'' || Contestant || [[Colors TV]] || Entered Day 1, Evicted Day 6 (October 2010)
| style="text-align:center;" | {{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
|}

==See also==
* [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://abbaskazmi.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazmi, Abbas}}
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) contestants]]

Abbas Kazmi - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 03:55, 26 April 2021