Nirbhaya Case: Supreme Court Dismisses Review Plea By Pawan Kumar Gupta Claiming That He Was Minor
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the four death row convicts in the Delhi 2012 gang-rape and murder case, petition claiming that he was a juvenile when the offence took place. Gupta's plea came a day ahead of his execution as per court order on Saturday, February 1, at 6 am.
New Delhi, January 31: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the four death row convicts in the Delhi 2012 gang-rape and murder case, petition claiming that he was a juvenile when the offence took place. Gupta's plea came a day ahead of his execution as per court order on Saturday, February 1, at 6 am. Hangman Pawan Reports at Tihar Jail for Nirbhaya Convicts’ Execution on February 1.
Several petitions have been filed by four convicts in an attempt to stall their execution. Hangman Pawan arrived at Delhi's Tihar Jail on Thursday, where convicts Mukesh Singh, Akshay Singh, Pawan and Vinay Sharma are to be hanged together. Nirbhaya Case: Tihar Jail Opposes Convicts' Plea to Stay February 1 Hanging, Calls Petition 'Mockery of Justice'.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi court reserved its order on an application filed by the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case seeking a stay on the execution, which is scheduled to take place on February 1.
An application seeking a stay on the execution of the death warrant was moved in the court on behalf of Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Vinay Sharma. Advocate AP Singh, appearing on behalf of the convicts, submitted that Mukesh has been sincerely pursuing all legal remedies without delay.
On the other hand, public prosecutor Irfan Ahmad said that the application moved by Vinay and Akshay is not maintainable as per Delhi Prison Rules but added that the execution of Vinay can be postponed.
Recently, Vinay Sharma had filed a mercy petition in the matter. He also stated that “granting any relief to the convicts would be a travesty of justice” and urged that their applications be dismissed. Advocate Seema Kushwaha, representing the victim’s side, said that the convicts herein are adopting delay tactics to thwart the speed of justice.
Tihar jail authorities filed a status report in the matter and informed the court that the convicts can be hanged separately adding that convict Mukesh Singh has exhausted all the legal remedies available to him.
Four convicts in the matter — Akshay Thakur, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, and Vinay Kumar Sharma — are scheduled to be hanged on February 1. The case pertains to the gang-rape and brutalising of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adults accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2020 04:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).