After Delhi govt, LG also recommends rejection of mercy plea of one of convicts in Nirbhaya case

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has also recommended rejecting the mercy petition filed by one of the convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya murder case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.

The development comes a day after the Delhi government recommended rejection of the mercy petition of Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts facing the gallows for the gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student.

Vinay Sharma had filed a mercy petition before President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Delhi government and LG's recommendations will be sent to the president who will take final call on the matter.

"Today, we have received the LG's approval to reject the mercy petition (of Vinay Sharma) and today we will send our recommendations to the president," the chief minister said in the Delhi Assembly.

He said the government wants stringent penalty for rape and murder convicts, adding that there is no need of leniency.

According to Kejriwal, the president had sought comments from the Delhi government on the mercy petition filed by one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya murder case.

On Sunday, the AAP government "strongly recommended" rejecting Vinay Sharma's mercy petition.

"This is the most heinous crime of extreme brutality committed by the applicant (Vinay Sharma). This is the case where exemplary punishment should be given to deter others from committing such atrocious crimes," a source quoted Jain as saying in the file noting on Sunday.

The Delhi home minister had also said, "There is no merit in mercy petition, strongly recommended for rejection."