Nirbhaya gang rape Case: Supreme Court upholds death sentence of four convicts

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death penalty awarded to four persons in the rape cum murder of 23 year old girl on December 16, 2012 in Delhi.

A three- judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra said the devilish manner in which the crime was committed was humanly inconceivable and it has shaken the collective conscience of the society.

"We are compelled to hold that the High Court and the trial court correctly arrived at the conclusion that no penalty other than the death sentence would meet the end of Justice," the bench, also comprising Justice R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan said.

Justice Banumathi passed a separate but concurring verdict in the case,that has triggered massive outrage across the country and drew international attention. The apex court dealt with comprehensively the evidence produced by Delhi police, DNA profiling, fingerprints and found them as impeccable.

The court agreed with senior advocate Sidharth Luthra representing Delhi police that there was no reason for police to rope in accused to implicate them in the case. It accepted his plea that the investigation was flawless.

The court also said the aggravating factors brought on record far outweigh the mitigating factors like young age and good conduct in custody canvassed by the convicts Vinay, Akshay Kumar, Pawan and Mukesh.

Justice Banumathi said though women were getting education but the crime against them was also increasing in the society.

The Delhi High Court had on March 13, 2014 confirmed the capital punishment to four convicts awarded by the trial court.

The prime accused, Ram Singh, was found dead in a cell in Tihar Jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated. The other accused was found minor and faced proceedings before juvenile court.