- Vinay Sharma is the only convict to file mercy appeal in this case
- The Union Home Ministry sent the petition to the President, also recommended to be dismissed
- One of the accused in the case committed suicide in jail, the remaining 4 were sentenced to death
Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case, said that the mercy petition sent to the President should be withdrawn. Vinay said on Saturday that the petition was not signed by me. Vinay is the only convict in the case who had filed the mercy petition. According to officials, the Home Ministry has sent a recommendation to the President for a final decision on the mercy petition. Also, the Center has recommended rejection on the mercy petition.
In December 2012, the case of Nirbhaya rape and murder came to light. An accused committed suicide in jail. The remaining four convicts were sentenced to death. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court and the Delhi High Court. 3 convicts filed a review petition last year against the Supreme Court verdict, which was dismissed. A convict had not filed a review petition.
Tihar Jail headquarters wrote letters to three jail superintendents.
Tihar Jail Headquarters had on October 28 this year written a confidential letter to the superintendents of the three jails where the four convicts are lodged. Mukesh and Akshay are lodged in Jail number two, Vinay jail number four and Pawan jail number 14 (Mandoli jail) in Tihar. The headquarters had said in the letter that the four convicts have been sentenced for Death. No case related to these is now pending in the Supreme Court.
The headquarters had also asked for their reply in seven days. The jail superintendents had given written notices in Hindi and English to the four convicts on 29 October. Receiving was also taken from them. According to jail sources, the letter was read out to the culprits and a video recording was also done.
Delhi government rejected mercy petition
The Delhi government dismissed the mercy petition of all the culprits in the case on 4 December. The government had submitted its information to the Union Home Ministry. Only after this, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent a mercy petition to the President. Now it depends on the President what he decides. If the President rejects the mercy petition, then all the culprits will be hanged.