Abhi Verma case: HC defers hearing till Nov 30

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 7

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today deferred the hearing on petitions filed by two assassins of Hoshiarpur boy Abhi Verma till November 30.

The duo is seeking a stay on the execution of their death warrants. They were to be hanged on October 25 at 9 am. On August 7, President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected their mercy petitions. They had also moved the Supreme Court, pleading that the hearing of their review petitions be reopened.

The developments took place on a petition filed by Jasbir Singh, alias Jassa, and Vikram Singh, alias Vicky.

Residents of Hoshiarpur district, the duo are currently confined in Patiala Central Jail.

Justice Rameshwar Malik has already ordered the production of the entire record on the plea filed by the accused for staying the execution of death warrants. The record includes the grounds on which the mercy petitions of both accused were rejected.

The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had also issued a notice to the Punjab Home Secretary, DGP (Prisons) and the Superintendent of Patiala Central Jail.

In the petition filed through counsel GK Maan, they had also sought directions for commutation of their death sentence to life imprisonment on the grounds on delay in execution of death warrants by a Hoshiarpur court.