President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday (January 17) rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

Earlier in the morning, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had forwarded the mercy plea to the president’s office, recommending him to reject it.

Mukesh Singh, one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, had filed the mercy petition a few days ago.

Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Delhi LG, had sent the mercy petition of Mukesh to the Home Ministry on Thursday, a day after the Delhi government recommended its rejection.

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Home Minister Amit Shah took less than a day to clear the file and sent it to Kovind for the final orders.

The four convicts – Mukesh Singh (32), Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25) were to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar Jail. A Delhi court had issued their death warrants on January 7.

Timeline of Nirbhaya case

Interactive timeline graphic. Click on the arrow or year to progress. START

Timeline of Nirbhaya case

However, the Delhi government had informed the high court during a hearing that the execution of the convicts will not take place on January 22 as a mercy plea has been filed by Mukesh.

(With inputs from agencies.)