NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani, sentenced to death and then acquitted in the 2001 Indian parliament attack case, was shot three times in the stomach outside his lawyer's house here on Tuesday night, witnesses said.

Mr Geelani was shot outside the house of his lawyer Nandita Haksar in the Vasant Enclave area of New Delhi just before the two were to discuss the case now pending in the Supreme Court.

Delhi Police had appealed the Supreme Court against the acquittal by the Delhi High Court in October 2003 of Mr Geelani and another alleged accomplice. The High Court had confirmed capital punishment awarded to two others.

"I saw Mr Geelani from my window. He was getting out of the car so I began to walk to open the door," Ms Haksar said. "Then I heard a wild banging on the door. When I opened it, Geelani told me he had been shot. We were to meet for the final hearing of the case."

Ms Haksar and Ms Kamini Jaiswal another lawyer in the case that led to a year-long military standoff with Pakistan, said they suspected the hand of the police in the shooting.

Ms Haksar said Mr Geelani had no known enemies, but she had often pointed to the risk of the police wanting him out of the way.

Mr Geelani was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where his condition was said to be critical.