For a nation which still has millions of people living under the below poverty level, ironically, India has spent $3m in the past three years on Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The special cell in Mumbai Arthur Road jail, where Ajmal Kasab is lodged, cost the state $1m to construct and another $2m was spent between March 2009 and September 2010 on security, though barring the legal fees. He was found guilty of waging war against India, multiple murder and conspiracy.

Though Ajmal Kasab was sentenced to death after a trial in May last year, his appeal is stil pending in the Supreme Court and therefore been living in a jail. The Mumbai terror attacks claimed 165 lives in which nine gunmen were also killed.

Also, 26,953 rupees were spent on his medical needs through Ms Gadgil, home secretary of Maharashtra denied media reports that he is being offered ‘Biriyani’ everyday for meal saying that a mere 52 cents was spent on his daily food.

As claimed by Ms.Gadgil, most of the cost has been spent on providing security to India’s most controversial high-profile prisoner. She also stated that the state authorities had received a bill of $2m from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, covering a period of 18 months.

However, the state government has already requested in writing to the federal authorities in Delhi to waive the amount as Qasab’s security was not Maharashtra’s concern alone.

3 Million dollar spent for Ajmal Kasab