The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence of the four convicts in the much-awaited December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case. The apex court while delivering the judgement said that they are upholding the sentence ‘taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts’ into consideration. “It is a barbaric incident”, Supreme Court said and called it a ‘rarest of the rare’ case.
The case was being heard in the SC after the convicts – Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh – had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to death. Appealing for mercy, the defence lawyers had said that the evidence was not enough to establish the role of the convicts. Before the Delhi Court, even a trial court had sentenced all the four convicts to death.
When the apex court announced its verdict, Nirbhaya’s mother who was sitting in the courtroom had tears in her eyes. Reports also suggest that the entire courtroom stood up to clap. Reacting to the judgement, Nirbhaya’s father said it is a “victory for the family. I am very happy,” he said.
#WATCH Nibhaya's mother Asha Devi says, sabko thanks kehna chahti hun, sabko insaaf mila hai. #Nirbhaya pic.twitter.com/1BlTtKpoNC
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017
The convicts’ lawyers however, said that they will appeal against the verdict again. “Justice has not been done. We will file a review petition after reading the order,” lawyer of the convicts AP Singh said.
Nirbhaya convicts’ lawyer AP Singh plans to appeal for review petition, claims death penalty is “not Gandhian” #NirbhayaVerdict pic.twitter.com/KK6gl0HKd9
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 5, 2017
Happy with the verdict, Delhi Police said that its stand has been vindicated. “Delhi Police’s investigation stands vindicated, it’s an important verdict,” Delhi Police spokesperson Deependra Pathak said.
In December 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison. A juvenile who was also convicted in the case only served a sentence of three years in a reform home.
Also Read: Convict Mukesh’s lawyer confident of acquittal as SC set to give its verdict today
Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women Swati Maliwal had on Friday morning tweeted that the convicts should be given death. “There should be only death penalty for the culprits of Nirbhaya. Justice has been delayed, let it not be denied,” she tweeted.
Ahead of the verdict, Nirbhaya’s mother had said that they have full faith in the judiciary. “I am sure that the Supreme Court will announce death sentence in its verdict for the guilty. I am sure the Supreme Court will give justice to my daughter. This will set an example for the world,” Nirbhaya’s mother had said on Friday.
Also Read: Leave SC, even God will not forgive such people: Nirbhaya’s parents hopeful of death for convicts
However, advocate ML Sharma, who is representing the accused convict Mukesh, had expressed confidence that his client will be acquitted. “We are expecting that Mukesh should be acquitted because there is no case against him. There is no evidence that he was even in the bus. We are waiting for the verdict which will come out at 2 pm today,” Sharma had said.
