NEW DELHI:
Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora on Tuesday issued death warrants against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case which had shaken the conscience of the nation and led to an overhaul of rape laws in its patriarchal society.
The convicts, Mukesh (30), Pawan Gupta (23), Vinay Sharma (24) and Akshay Kumar Singh (27) will be sent to the gallows on January 22 at 0700 hrs.
On the fateful night of December 16, 2012, the 23-year-old paramedic student was gang-raped inside a running bus in south Delhi by six persons and brutally assaulted before being thrown out on the road. She succumbed to injuries on December 29 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.
In July last year, the Supreme Court had dismissed the review petition filed on behalf of three convicts Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma.
Ram Singh, one of the accused, had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail. A 17-year-old, who was convicted by a juvenile justice board, was released from a correctional facility after serving a three-year term.
Last month, the Supreme Court dismissed the last review petition filed by one of the convicts Akshay Kumar Singh, ruling that he may sue for mercy before the President of India and had one week to do so.
Government Counsel submitted before the court for issuance of death warrants against the convicts as there was nothing to hold it back. He said there was nothing that prevented the court from issuing death warrants against the convicts.
Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora, after hearing the plea, on behalf of the prosecution and the convicts, put up for 3:30 pm pronouncing the order.
ML Sharma, counsel for the convicts, submitted before the court that they are in the process of filing a curative petition. Mukesh’s mother broke down in court. Mother of Nirbhaya said she was also weeping for so many years and her daughter had finally obtained justice.