Nirbhaya case: Convict Vinay Sharma approaches Delhi L. Governor

Vinay Sharma, a death row convict in the gangrape and murderof a paramedical student in 2012, on Monday approached the Delhi's LieutenantGovernor's office demanding that his death sentence be commuted to lifeimprisonment. The convict moved the LG's office through his counsel AP Singh,who filed a plea under Sections 432 and 433 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The development comes two days after the apex courtdismissed the plea of Mukesh Singh, another of the four convicts, seeking anurgent hearing on Monday. The court said on March 7 that it will hear Mukesh'splea on March 16.

Advocate M L Sharma, representing Mukesh, had contended hisclient is a victim of a criminal conspiracy and fraud played by Grover incollusion with the Delhi government and the Centre.

"They compelled him to sign various papers under threatof session court order (which was never issued by the session court) statingthat court has directed her to secured various signed documents from him tofile various petition including Curative Petition on his behalf in the HighCourt and Supreme Court in his death sentence case," said Sharma in thepetition seeking the top court permission to file fresh curative petition andmercy plea.

Sharma contended that all the advocates representing Delhigovernment and the Centre, including Grover, deliberately did not disclose thetrue legal position of the limitation period, which is three years for filingthe curative petition as per law.

A trial court last week issued fresh warrants with March 20, 5.30 a.m., as the date for the execution of the convicts — Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

The top court slated the matter for further hearing on March 23, on Centre's plea to permit separate hanging of the accused in the case.