Bihar court defers hearing divorce plea of Nirbhaya rapist Akshay's wife, ahead of hanging

A Bihar court on Thursday deferred hearing on divorce petition of Nirbhaya convict Akshay Singh. wife of convict had on Wednesday filed a divorce petition before court in Bihar's Aurangabad district. She has claimed that she doesn't wish to live with label of being "a rapist's widow". 

Her 'husband', on or hand, had filed a second mercy petition - seeking commutation of his death sentence. All four rapists have also moved Patiala House Court - seeking a stay on execution. Judge on Thursday has reserved order and will be prounced at 2:30 pm.

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Earlier on Thursday, Supreme Court dismissed curative petition filed by convict Pawan Kumar Gupta challenging dismissal of his claim of juvenility at time of offence. A six judge bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra, R F Nariman, R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna heard petition and dismissed same as being devoid of merits.

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Nirbhaya court proceedings

mercy petitions and curative petitions of all four convicts -Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, and Akshay Kumar and Pawan Gupta have already been dismissed by President and Supreme Court respectively. Patiala House Court had ordered that convicts be hanged on March 20 at 5:30 AM after issuing fresh death warrants which is fourth such date after previous three dates- January 17, January 31 and March 3 were deferred by petitions filed by convicts. convicts are still employing several delay tactics - petitioning for review of rejection of mercy amid new plea, action against former advocate for restoration of his legal remedies, stay on execution, criminal conspiracy, moving International Court of Justice etc.

READ | Nirbhaya Convict Akshay's Wife Files For Divorce As He Files 2nd Mercy Plea Before Hanging

What is Nirbhaya case? 

A 23-year-old paramedic student Nirbhaya was gang-raped inside a running bus by six persons on December 16, 2012, in Delhi. victim was severely assaulted and thrown out on road along with her male friend and succumbed to injuries a few days later. Out of six convicts, one reportedly committed suicide in prison, while ar, a juvenile, served maximum punishment of three years in a reform home and was set free in 2015. remaining four rapists were convicted and handed death penalty by a trial court in 2013, confirmed by Delhi High Court in March 2014. Supreme Court upheld Delhi High Court's verdict in 2017. 

READ | Nirbhaya Case: SC Rejects Convict Pawan's Juvenility Claim Curative Plea On Eve Of Hanging