Man on death row unaware of mercy petition being rejected

Nagpur: Vasant Dupare, whose mercy petition against the death penalty was rejected by President Draupadi Murmu recently, is still unaware of the decision, which also means his capital punishment remains in force.
In Nagpur Central Jail, there are 13 convicts facing the gallows, including the wife of Yakub Memon, who was the last to be executed here for his involvement in the Mumbai bomb blasts.

The trial court had in 2014 sentenced Dupare to capital punishment for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in April 2008 at Tekdi Wadi after luring her with a chocolate. Dupare’s capital punishment was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2017. The Supreme Court had also rejected a curative petition.
In March this year, the home ministry had referred Dupare’s case to the president’s office. On April 10, Murmu rejected the mercy petition.
Sources in Nagpur Central Jail said Dupare was not told about the decision of the president considering he may get mentally disturbed. “All Dupare knows is that there has been some movement in his case. A lawyer visited him on Thursday and got some documents signed, but did not disclose anything to him,” said the source.
Dupare has in jail participated in the Gandhi Vichar Pariksha held by a NGO, and also cleared the entrance for IGNOU's degree-level education. A reticent and reserved inmate, Dupare has never been into any illegal activities in jail.
A senior jail official said Dupare may have more options left. “The two immediate options now open for Dupare is to personally petition the president again for reviewing the rejection. Another avenue open for him is to apply to the state government for mercy, which can be sent to the president once again,” said a senior jail official, adding the state will not rush into the execution and it may take months for the final order to come.
Sources said Dupare has two sons, who have never visited their father in jail. One of his sisters staying in Koradi had visited him in the past. “It’s the lawyers who visit Dupare most, but not his family members,” said a jail source.