Two Nirbhaya convicts move court

Akshay Thakur and Pawan Gupta have sought a stay on the execution scheduled for March 3

01/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Final attempt: Delhi gang rape convicts Akshay Thakur, left, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh Singh.File photo

Two of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, Akshay Thakur and Pawan Kumar Gupta, on Saturday moved a Delhi court seeking stay on the execution of their death warrants, scheduled for March 3.

Additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana issued notice to the Tihar Jail authorities on the pleas directing the officials to file their response by March 2.

In his plea, Akshay claimed that he had filed a fresh mercy petition before the President, which is pending. Gupta told the court that he had filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court and that he also had an option to file a mercy petition. Both the convicts said several other petitions were also pending before the Supreme Court and other authorities. Gupta has not filed a plea for clemency with the President.

SC to hear Gupta’s plea

Meanwhile, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice N.V. Ramana will hear on March 2 the curative plea file by Gupta.

Gupta’s lawyer A.P. Singh told the media that he was a juvenile at the time of the crime and was not present at the place of crime. He was attending a musical show, he claimed. The petition said the court did not follow the principles of natural justice while confirming his death sentence.

Recently, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts, challenging the rejection of his mercy plea by the President.

The curative petition would be decided by circulation among the judges on the Bench in their chambers.

(With PTI inputs)