Beant Singh assassination case: Supreme Court refuses to commute Balwant Rajoana's death penalty

New Delhi, May 3: In what may be termed as a major setback for 'Release Bandi Singhs' movement, the  Supreme Court on Wednesday declined the plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is a convict in former Punjab CM Beant Singh’s assassination case, demanding the commutation of his death penalty to life imprisonment. 

The Supreme Court said, "The Centre would deal with mercy petition as and when it deems necessary and take a further decision".

He had sought commutation of his death penalty on the grounds that the Central Government had failed to take a decision on his mercy petition for long

Balwant Singh Rajoana has been in jail for the last 26 years. Notably, on March 2, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana after hearing the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the convict, and Additional Solicitor General K M Natraj.

Rajoana was deployed as a constable with the Punjab Police when he was convicted for his involvement in the explosion outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat on August 31, 1995, that left Beant Singh and 16 others dead.

He was sentenced to death by a special court in July 2007.