Delhi government rejects Nirbhaya convict Mukesh's mercy plea; forwarded to MHA

Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi on Thursday rejected mercy petition of Mukesh Kumar, one of convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case.  plea was n forwarded to Lieutenant Goverr Anil Baijal, who has w sent it to Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This came as BJP slammed Arvind Kejriwal government for delaying hanging of all four convicts in case, stating that  state government's carelessness was reprehensible.

READ | Nirbhaya Case: Prakash Javedekar Slams Delhi Government For Delay In Hanging Rapists

Delhi HC refuses to stay death warrant

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi government told  High Court that four rapists will t be hanged on January 22, citing mercy petition by Mukesh Kumar which was pending. Refusing to interfere in delay, Delhi High Court refused to put a stay on death warrant of Nirbhaya's rapists stating petition is a strategy to 'prolong matter'. four convicts – Vinay Sharma (26), Mukesh Kumar (32), Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25) are to be executed on January 22 at 7 AM in Tihar jail. Currently, petition is being heard by a Patiala House court after Supreme Court rejected two convicts' curative petition.

READ | Make Nirbhaya's Rapists' Execution Day 'Rape Prevention Day': NGO PARI To Smriti Irani

Nirbhaya case

A 23-year-old paramedic student Nirbhaya was gangraped 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 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.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | Nirbhaya Convicts Yet To Tell Authorities When y'd Like To Meet ir Kin Last Time

READ | Delhi Govt & Rapists' Lawyers Delaying Execution: Nirbhaya's Mor Asha Devi