President Pranab will decide Kasab’s fate now
24 Oct 2012 8:43 AM IST
Expediting the decision on the mercy petition filed by 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case convict Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday rejected his plea and forwarded it to the Rashtrapati Bhawan recommending of the hanging the Lashkar operative. At the President's secretariat there are already 11 other mercy pleas, including that of Parliament attack case convict Mohammed Afzal Guru, awaiting disposal.
However, in the case of Kasab, the Rashtrapati Bhawan could be expected to act faster. Even the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) broke the queue in Kasab's case by disposing his plea before it had given its opinion on the similar petitions received earlier.
The mercy petitions of Balwant Singh Rajoana, Maganlal of Madhya Pradesh and BA Umesh Reddy of Karnataka precede Kasab’s petition, however, the decision on the latter has been taken earlier clearly suggesting government's intent of Kasab's early execution.
'It is expected that the President wouldn't keep Kasab's file for long as in the other cases specially that of Afzal Guru,' the MHA sources said. MHA’s recommendation on Afzal Guru’s mercy plea was sent to President's office on August 4, 2011. However, no decision has yet been taken.
Home Ministry officials added that recommendation in this case is very crucial, despite the final call to be taken by the President, Pranab Mukherjee. 'It had long been anticipated that Shinde's decision on Kasab is going to mark his fate,' the sources said, adding that, 'Several rounds of meeting were held in the North Block before finalization of the decision.'
Officials further said that Kasab's mercy petition has been dismissed by the MHA as he was involved in a grave crime and waging war against India that led to killing 166 people, including foreigners. 'It is most likely that Pranab Mukherjee will go with the recommendation of the Home Ministry. He will take into account all the material before him but will take an independent view on the matter. However, the President is not bound by a time period as to when he has to take a decision on the matter,' the sources said.
Meanwhile, sources also said that with this decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it can be safely said that the one of major bureaucratic hurdle in the process of Kasab's hanging for his involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks has cleared and there is no legal options left before him.
Ajmal Kasab had moved a mercy petition before the President after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in the 26/11 case. On August 29, 2012 the Supreme Court had confirmed the death penalty awarded to the LeT operative by the trial court and later upheld by the Bombay High Court.
Kasab and nine other Pakistani terrorists had landed in south Mumbai on November 26, 2008 by sea from Karachi and had gone on a shooting spree at various places, killing 166 people, including foreigners. While Kasab was captured alive, the other terrorists were killed by security forces.
However, in the case of Kasab, the Rashtrapati Bhawan could be expected to act faster. Even the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) broke the queue in Kasab's case by disposing his plea before it had given its opinion on the similar petitions received earlier.
The mercy petitions of Balwant Singh Rajoana, Maganlal of Madhya Pradesh and BA Umesh Reddy of Karnataka precede Kasab’s petition, however, the decision on the latter has been taken earlier clearly suggesting government's intent of Kasab's early execution.
'It is expected that the President wouldn't keep Kasab's file for long as in the other cases specially that of Afzal Guru,' the MHA sources said. MHA’s recommendation on Afzal Guru’s mercy plea was sent to President's office on August 4, 2011. However, no decision has yet been taken.
Home Ministry officials added that recommendation in this case is very crucial, despite the final call to be taken by the President, Pranab Mukherjee. 'It had long been anticipated that Shinde's decision on Kasab is going to mark his fate,' the sources said, adding that, 'Several rounds of meeting were held in the North Block before finalization of the decision.'
Officials further said that Kasab's mercy petition has been dismissed by the MHA as he was involved in a grave crime and waging war against India that led to killing 166 people, including foreigners. 'It is most likely that Pranab Mukherjee will go with the recommendation of the Home Ministry. He will take into account all the material before him but will take an independent view on the matter. However, the President is not bound by a time period as to when he has to take a decision on the matter,' the sources said.
Meanwhile, sources also said that with this decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it can be safely said that the one of major bureaucratic hurdle in the process of Kasab's hanging for his involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks has cleared and there is no legal options left before him.
Ajmal Kasab had moved a mercy petition before the President after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in the 26/11 case. On August 29, 2012 the Supreme Court had confirmed the death penalty awarded to the LeT operative by the trial court and later upheld by the Bombay High Court.
Kasab and nine other Pakistani terrorists had landed in south Mumbai on November 26, 2008 by sea from Karachi and had gone on a shooting spree at various places, killing 166 people, including foreigners. While Kasab was captured alive, the other terrorists were killed by security forces.
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