Nirbhaya Case: Convicts' Lawyer Files Fresh Plea Before Delhi Court, May Lead to Delay in Execution
Their counsel, in his plea before the Patiala House Court, said the three convicts would be able to file their curative petitions and mercy pleas only after Tihar Jail authorities release documents that are needed for the same. The lawyer is expected to seek the cancellation of the death warrant issued last week against them.
New Delhi, January 24: The lawyer of Nirbhaya gangrape murder case convicts filed a fresh plea on Friday before the Patiala House Court, claiming that the Tihar Jail authorities are yet to release documents which are essential for filing the curative pleas and mercy petitions. The plea may lead to further delay in the execution of Nirbhaya convicts, as the rules mandate the convicts to exhaust all their legal remedies before facing the gallows.
The petition was moved by advocate AP Singh, on behalf of three convicts - Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25). The fourth convict, Mukesh Singh (32), has exhausted his curative plea and submitted a mercy plea before the President. Nirbhaya Rape And Murder Case: Delhi Government Rejects Mercy Plea of Convict Mukesh Singh, L-G Forwards Plea to MHA.
Their counsel, in his plea before the Patiala House Court, said his clients would be able to file their curative petitions and mercy pleas only after Tihar Jail authorities release documents that are needed for the same. The lawyer is expected to seek the cancellation of the death warrant issued last week against them.
Update by ANI
The Delhi court had last week issued a death warrant against the four convicts, stating that they would be hanged at 6 am on February 1. Earlier, the four of them were scheduled to be hanged on January 22. But the date was deferred as they were yet to file their mercy pleas and curative petitions.
A total of six persons were convicted for gangraping and murdering a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi on December 16, 2012. The incident had shook the nation's conscience as the girl was subjected to "extreme torture" and "bestiality". Among the six convicts, one juvenile was let off after serving three-year sentence at a Juvenile Justice Home, whereas, a major convict - Ram Singh - committed suicide inside the Tihar Jail premises. The death penalty of four other convicts was upheld by the Supreme Court last year.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 24, 2020 02:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).