Nirbhaya case: Timeline of the case that opened India's eyes to rape
A Delhi court on Tuesday issued the death warrant against all four death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The execution has been scheduled for 7 am on January 22 at the Tihar jail. Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora, who issued the death warrants, said the convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days. Akshay Thakur Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma were found guilty in the 2012 gang-rape, torture and killing of a young medical student in Delhi. "This judgement will reinforce people's faith in the judiciary. My daughter will get justice," said Nirbhaya's mother, who had petitioned the court for a death warrant, saying she had waited seven years for justice.
December 16, 2012: Brutal rape of Nirbhaya by five men -- Ram Singh, the bus driver, and brother Mukesh Singh, besides Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta, and a minor that shook the nation.
January 3, 2013: Delhi Police files charge-sheet against five adult accused for offences including murder, gang rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity.
January 28, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) rules that sixth accused is a minor.
February 2, 2013: Five adult accused are charged with 13 offences including murder.
March 11, 2013: Ram Singh, the bus driver, is found hanging in his cell in Tihar jail.
March 21, 3013: Rape law in the country amended, new tougher anti-rape law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders.
August 31, 2013: JJB convicts the juvenile for gang rape and murder and awards three years term at a probation home.
September 10, 2013: Fast Track court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gang rape, unnatural offence and murder of the woman and attempt to murder her male friend.
September 13, 2013: Fast track court awards death to all four convicts. Trial court refers the case to Delhi High Court for confirmation of death sentence.
November 1, 2013: The Delhi High Court starts hearing the case on a daily basis.
March 13, 2014: The Delhi High Court upholds the death sentences awarded to the four convicts.
December 20, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the juvenile. He walks out of a correction home after spending three years.
April 3, 2016: Supreme Court begins hearing in the case.
March 27, 2017: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.
May 5, 2017: Supreme Court upholds death penalty of four accused - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh.
July 9, 2018: Supreme Court rejects review petition filed by Pawan, Mukesh and Vinay
December 13, 2018: Nirbhaya's parents move Patiala House court seeking expediting the execution of convict
October 29, 2019: Tihar Jail gives seven days time to Nirbahaya rape and murder convicts to file the mercy petition or else they will go to court and seek black warrants
November 8, 2019: Vinay Sharma files mercy petition with Delhi government
November 29, 2019: Home department of Delhi government rejects Vinay Sharma's mercy petition forwards the file to chief secretary
November 30, 2019: Chief secretary rejects it and moves the file to Home Minister Satyendera (check spelling) Jain
December 1, 2019: Jain rejects it and forwards it to LG's office
December 2, 2019: LG rejects mercy plea of Vinay, gives approval to Delhi govt decisions
December 6, 2019: MHA has sent to President, Delhi govt recommendation rejecting Vinay's mercy plea
December 10, 2019: Akshay files a review petition in Supreme Court.
December 17, 2019: CJI recuses from hearing review plea.
December 18, 2019: Supreme Court rejects review plea; Akshay to file mercy plea before President in 3 weeks time. Patiala House Court to hear parent's plea on execution.
January 7, 2020: The four convicts sentenced to death in the Nirbhaya case will hang at 7 am on January 22, a Delhi court said today, issuing a death warrant.
(With inputs from IANS)
