Delhi court defers hearing on plea seeking death warrant of Nirbhaya rape case convicts

The judge will speak to the convicts via video conference at 3:15 pm.

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice R Banumathi-led three judge bench of the Supreme Court rejected the review petition filed by Akshay Singh who is one of the convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

The court rejected the petition saying it had no merits upholding the death sentence of the convict.

After saying the Supreme Court rejected the review petition under public and political pressures, AP Singh, one of the lawyers of Akshay, said following the deferment of the death warrant plea, "There is so much urgency in the case because elections are coming in Delhi. All political parties want to win points now. Despite pressures from media, we must not forget that we will have to follow our constitution."

Akshay through his lawyers has already pleaded a mercy petition to President Ram Nath Kovind.

On Dec 16, 2012, Nirbhaya, who was a 23-year female physiotherapy intern, was gang-raped, assaulted and tortured at a private bus in Delhi when she was travelling with her friend.

She was raped by six people including the driver of the bus.

The victim had succumbed to her injuries 13 days after the horrific crime was committed.

The incident had sparked national and international outrage. Both the state and central government were brought under the scanner for not providing adequate protection to women in the national capital.