SC stays execution of two death row convicts in Abhi Verma murder case

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 24

The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of two death row convicts found guilty of kidnapping and killing the son of a Hoshiarpur-based goldsmith in 2005 until its final judgment, a day before their hanging.

A special three-judge Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan was hearing a petition for reviewing death sentences of Jasbir Singh and Vikram Singh on Monday.

The two were to be executed at 9 am on Tuesday.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also deferred hearing of the convicts’ petition seeking commutation of their sentences to November 3.

The two — and one other person named Sonia — were sentenced to death by a trial court in Hoshiarpur for having kidnapped, then murdered, 16-year-old Abhi Verma for a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. They administered heavy doses of chloroform and fortwin to keep the teenager sedated, tied him up and taped his mouth, all of which lead to his death.      

The three were convicted for murder and kidnapping for ransom, among other offences. The Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the sentence on May 30, 2008.

Although the Supreme Court upheld Jasbir Singh and Vikram Singh’s sentences on January 25, 2010, it commuted Sonia's sentence to a life term.  

The duo then moved the high court contesting their conviction for kidnapping for ransom, but their petition was dismissed and death warrants were issued for October 5, 2012.

They appealed the order in the Supreme Court, which stayed it, giving them time to file a mercy petition before the President. The petition was sent to the Punjab Governor, who dismissed it in 2013. They filed a mercy petition before the President, but were turned down this August.

The Hoshiarpur Sessions Court issued their death warrants on September 27.