Ahead Of 1 February Deadline For Hanging, Another Nirbaya Convict Vinay Kumar Sharma Files Mercy Plea

Vinay Kumar Sharma, one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case awaiting execution, has sent a mercy petition to President Ram Nath Kovind, his lawyer A P Singh said on Wednesday (29 January).

Tihar Jail authorities have already started preparations to hang the four convicts facing death row for their involvement in the horrific incident of 16 December 2012 -- wherein a 23-year-old para-medical student was gang-raped in a moving bus.

With the 1 February deadline for hanging nearing, the convicts are taking all possible steps to delay the executions by using all the legal options available to them.

For the last 15 days, some of the convicts are visiting courts to use their legal rights. However, they have not got any favourable response from any court so far.

On Wednesday, Vinay, one of the four convicts currently lodged in Tihar Jail, sent a mercy petition to the President, hoping to get some relief. Now, he is waiting for the President's response.

Earlier, another convict Mukesh Singh had sent a mercy plea to the President. However, the President had rejected his petition on 17 January. Following this, Mukesh challenged the rejection of his mercy petition in the Supreme Court.

(With inputs from IANS)