Surinder Koli, accused in the Nithari serial murders, has forwarded a mercy petition to Dasna prison officials. The petition would be forwarded to President Pratibha Patil for consideration. Koli had been awarded the death penalty in the Rimpa Haldar murder case.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dasna prison superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said Koli's mercy petition has been sent to the Uttar Pradesh state administration (Law department). It would later be forwarded to the President. Koli had filed the petition on May 7.
Koli and his employer, Moninder Singh Pandher, were given the death penalty in the rape and murder case of Haldar - serial murder victim -- on February 13, 2009.
After an appeal, although Pandher was acquitted of all charges, Koli's sentence was upheld by the Allahabad High Court. Later, the Supreme Court also upheld Koli's sentence in February this year.
Meanwhile, after the apex court's order, Ghaziabad Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge, Shyam Lal, ordered the issue of a death warrant for Koli's execution. He was to be hanged between May 24 and May 31, CBI senior public prosecutor JP Sharma informed.
"The Ghaziabad court's execution order would now be stayed, since Koli has appealed to the President in his mercy petition," Sharma told HT.
{{/usCountry}}"The Ghaziabad court's execution order would now be stayed, since Koli has appealed to the President in his mercy petition," Sharma told HT.
{{/usCountry}}The next hearing in the case is on May 13. Koli is lodged in the Dasna district prison.