Union Home Ministry today recommended President Ram Nath Kovind to reject Nirbhaya gang-rape convict Mukesh Singh’s mercy petition. Shah’s recommendation to the President exhausts all the possibilities of Mukesh Singh escaping the gallows.
Under the Constitution of India (Article 72), the President of India can grant a pardon or reduce the sentence of a convicted person, particularly in cases involving capital punishment.
Yesterday, a Delhi court directed the Tihar jail authorities to file the status report by today about the status of the scheduled execution of convicts.
The Delhi government had earlier rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh. The mercy plea was then sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs via Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who accepted the recommendation of the Delhi government.
The convicts, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta, were to be hanged at 7 am on January 22.