New Delhi: President Ramnath Kovind also rejected the mercy plea of one of the four accused in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case. With this, all petitions in the President’s office have been decided. Akshay had issued a mercy plea to the President a few days ago. The President had earlier rejected the mercy pleas of Vinay Sharma and Mukesh Singh, the other accused in the Nirbhaya case.
The Supreme Court will hear the central government’s petition challenging the Delhi High Court verdict in the Nirbhaya case. The High Court yesterday dismissed the plea filed by the Center challenging the trial court’s decision that stayed the death sentence. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Center, told the apex court that despite the mercy petitions rejected, the prison authorities could not carry out the death penalty. A bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna, and Krishna Murari will hear the case tomorrow.
