President Mukherjee decided on Kasab plea in 12 days

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) It took barely a fortnight for President Pranab Mukherjee to decide on the mercy petition of 26/11 convict Ajmal Amir Kasab, who was hanged Wednesday morning in a Pune jail.

“The president had rejected the mercy petition of Kasab on Nov 5,” Venu Rajamony, the president’s press secretary, told IANS.

After the Maharashtra government rejected Kasab’s mercy plea on Oct 16 and the union home ministry followed suit on Oct 23, the file moved to President Mukherjee.

Mukherjee took his decision in about 12 days, rejecting Kasab’s plea on Nov 5 − thus paving the way for his execution.

By Nov 8, the file had moved back to the Maharashtra government for further action, and Kasab was hanged Nov 21 − five days before the fourth anniversary of the carnage.

“The president rejected Kasab’s mercy petition Nov 5. I had forwarded it to the Maharashtra government on Nov 8, and it was finalised that day that Kasab would be hanged on Nov 21 at 7.30 a.m.”, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters confirming Kasab’s hanging.

There are 14 mercy petitions before the president, including that of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

IANS 2012-11-21 20:16:04