President rejects mercy petition of Nirbhaya case convict Mukesh Singh

New Delhi:President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday, rejected the mercy petition filed by Nirbhaya gang rape convict Mukesh Singh, sources confirmed here.Earlier, the Home Ministry had forwarded the mercy petition to President, recommending rejection, sources had said.

Convict Mukesh Singh along with Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar Singh and Pawan Gupta were on death row for the horrific gang rape of a young medical student in December 2012 who eventually died in a Singapore hospital. 

The four convicts were to be hanged on January 22 at 0700 hrs in Tihar Jail, but, on Wednesday during a hearing in Delhi High Court, Defence counsel contended that the convicts could not be executed on January 22 unless the mercy plea is decided.(UNI)