Delhi Gang Rape: Judge Follows Demands Of The Mob, Hands Down Death Penalty

On Friday, the four convicted rapists in the high profile Delhi gang rape case were given the death penalty by a Delhi court. The four were convicted by another court on September 10 for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student. This case has evoked nationwide outrage and led the government to pass stringent anti-rape laws; Judge Yogesh Khanna said “Death to all” while delivering his verdict. In full, he stated:

“Besides discussing others offences, I straightaway come to section 302 (murder) of IPC. This falls under inhuman nature of the convicts and the gravity of offence they committed cannot be tolerated. Death sentence is given to all the four convicts. The offence committed by Mukesh (26), Akshay Thakur (28), Pawan Gupta (19) and Vinay Sharma (20) falls under the rarest of rare category warranting capital punishment. When crime against women is rising on day-to-day basis, so, at this point in time court cannot keep its eye shut. Court cannot turn a blind eye to such a gruesome act. There should be exemplary punishment in view of the unparalleled brutality with which the victim was gang raped and murdered, as the case falls under the rarest of rare category, all be given death. This is a time when serious crime against a woman has come to the fore and now its judiciary’s responsibility to instill confidence among the women.”

When the defendant Vinay heard the sentence, he started crying while the other three — Mukesh, Pawan, and Akshay — shouted for a pardon. Advocate V. K. Anand, who appeared for Mukesh, said he will file an appeal in the Delhi high court. Special public prosecutor Dayan Krishnan said, “I have done my job and we are happy with the verdict.” The victim’s family were in court to hear the verdict. Her mother said, “We were waiting with bated breath, now we are relieved. I thank the people of my country and the media.” So that is the situation for now. Whether the sentence for the Delhi gang rape will ever be carried out is now up to the High Court.