President Murmu Rejects Mercy Petition of Pak Terrorist Convicted In 2000 Red Fort Attack Case

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has declined the mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif, also known as Ashfaq, convicted in the nearly 24-year-old Red Fort attack case.

This marks the second time the President has rejected a mercy plea since taking office on July 25, 2022.

On November 3, 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed Arif’s review petition, upholding the death penalty imposed on him for his involvement in the case. Despite this, legal experts suggest that a death row convict can still appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution, citing prolonged delay in execution.

Arif’s mercy plea was received on May 15 and subsequently denied on May 27, as per the President’s secretariat order dated May 29.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling, emphasized the absence of mitigating circumstances in Arif’s favour and highlighted the direct threat posed by the Red Fort attack to the nation’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

The attack occurred on December 22, 2000, when terrorists opened fire at the 7 Rajputana Rifles unit stationed within the Red Fort premises, resulting in the deaths of three Army personnel. Arif, a Pakistani national and member of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was nabbed by Delhi Police four days after the incident.