RR Patil shows Ajmal Kasab no 'mercy'

State home minister RR Patil on Monday dismissed the mercy petition filed by Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict, seeking Presidential pardon.

Sources in the home ministry said although the mercy petition is addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee, the file has to proceed through the state home ministry. 

“The state government is of the view that the Supreme Court's (SC) decision to accord death sentence against Kasab should be immediately executed. I reject the mercy petition,” Patil said. Kasab, who is lodged in the Arthur Road jail, had moved a mercy petition seeking Presidential pardon last fortnight. The Arthur Road jail authorities forwarded the file to the state home ministry.

Patil, who has been advocating highest punishment to Kasab, outrightly dismissed the petition. “There cannot be any room for forgiveness in Kasab's case, who has killed 166 innocent people,” he said.

A senior officer in the Mantralaya said, “Generally, on matters which are to be decided by the Centre, it is not mandatory for the state home ministry or the chief minister to make any strong remarks. However, the home minister's rejection reflects the overall sentiments of the people, not only in the state, but also across the country.”

“The dismissal of the file is to indicate that the Centre should not delay his death sentence further,” Patil said.

He added that there were provisions, which allow the Centre to implement the death sentence of Kasab before the others. A senior officer in the home ministry said, “As per the procedure, the file from the jail comes to the state home ministry, which then puts it up before the chief minister. The chief minister forwards the same to the state governor. It is sent to the Union home ministry in New Delhi, which will send it to the President.”

“Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is in Delhi and will return on Monday night,” said an officer from the CMO.

“In a couple of days, we will send the file to Governor K Sankaranarayanan. After the governor's remarks, the file will be sent to the Centre.”

“There cannot be any ambiguity about executing the highest punishment to Kasab,” said Chavan. “But there are certain procedures which will have to be completed.”

Chavan has in the past indicated that the final decision on when Kasab should be hanged will have to be taken at the Centre. Both Chavan and Patil are confident that the centre will not compromise on punishing the Pakistan terrorist.