Ajmal Kasab’s prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam nominated to Rajya Sabha, year after poll defeat

Ujjwal Nikam, the man who prosecuted 26/11 gunman Ajmal Kasab and became a household name for his fiery courtroom arguments, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu — just over a year after losing his maiden Lok Sabha election.

Nikam, 72, has long been the legal go-to for Maharashtra governments and national leaders across party lines. His nomination is seen both as a recognition of his decades-long contribution to India’s legal landscape and as a political reward by the BJP for his loyalty during the 2024 general elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Nikam’s nomination, calling it a tribute to his dedication to justice and constitutional values. “He has always worked to ensure common citizens are treated with dignity,” the PM posted on X. “It’s gladdening that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha.”

Speaking to ANI, Nikam recounted a phone call from the PM in which Modi asked, with a chuckle, whether to speak in Marathi or Hindi. “He told me the President had entrusted me with new responsibilities and asked if I was ready to take them on. I immediately said yes,” Nikam said.

The courtroom crusader

Nikam began as a civil lawyer in Jalgaon, but it was the 1993 Bombay blasts case that catapulted him into the national spotlight. Over the years, he prosecuted several headline-making cases — including the 1997 Gulshan Kumar murder, the Khairlanji Dalit killings, the Shakti Mills gangrape, the Pramod Mahajan murder, and the Kopardi rape and murder case. He boasts of having secured over 30 death penalties and 600 life sentences.

But it was the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, that cemented Nikam’s image in the public imagination as a fierce, no-nonsense prosecutor. Kasab was convicted and hanged in 2012.

During that trial, Nikam famously claimed that Kasab had demanded biryani in jail — a statement he later admitted was fabricated to quell rising public sympathy for the terrorist. The tactic sparked debate but also added to Nikam’s persona as a courtroom strategist.

Political foray and comeback

In 2024, Nikam resigned as special public prosecutor to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North Central on a BJP ticket. His campaign leaned heavily on his legal legacy, with a patriotic pitch centred around his fight against terrorism. However, he lost to Congress’s Varsha Gaikwad by over 16,000 votes.

Following his defeat, Nikam returned to the courtroom, once again donning the public prosecutor’s robe. He is currently leading trials in sensitive cases, including the 26/11 conspiracy charges against Zaibuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal and the serial killing case involving Vijay Palande — who had opposed Nikam’s return to the prosecution, alleging political bias. Palande’s challenge was dismissed by the court.

Despite stepping back from some cases in recent years — including the 2011 Mumbai triple blasts and the 2014 Mohsin Shaikh lynching — Nikam has remained a fixture in the state’s legal and political corridors.

His nomination to the Rajya Sabha now marks a new chapter — from courtroom crusader to lawmaker — a journey powered by conviction, controversy, and a deep-rooted belief in the Constitution.