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 Altamas Kabir, said it will wait for the judgement of the other bench, which also heard a plea for commutation of death sentence. The apex court adjourned the hearing on the plea by the four aides by six months.
The convicts were awarded capital punishment in 2004 for a landmine blast in Karnataka, that killed 22 police personnel. The petition on behalf of the four convicts was filed by advocate Samik Narain. Narain was given the liberty to amend and rectify the petition, after objections were raised on its maintainability by Attorney General G E Vahanvati, who was asked to assist the court.