The Supreme Court today extended the stay on execution of death sentence of four aides of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, till further orders. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir, said it was keeping the matter pending since another bench, which has heard an identical plea, has reserved its judgement. The apex court adjourned the hearing on the plea by the four aides for six months.
The convicts were awarded capital punishment in 2004 for a landmine blast in Karnataka, that killed 22 police personnel. The mercy petition of the four was rejected by the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 13th of this month.They are presently lodged in a jail in Belgaum in Karnataka. A TADA court in Mysore had in 2001 sentenced them to life term which was enhanced to death sentence by the apex court.Gang leader Veerappan was killed in an encounter with the Tamil Nadu Police in October 2004.