Hyderabad twin blast case: Convicts' execution in 20 years

Hyderabad: The twin-blast convicted Aneeq Shafique Sayeed and Akbar Ismail Choudhary, charged with death penalty will likely be hanged in less than 20 years, unlike what was earlier previewed to be a final and immediate implementation of the death penalty. A judicial process is said to be followed post the current conviction verdict. Advocates of the convicted are said to initiate the process for appeal at the High Court Namrata Das, a criminal lawyer said, “The time frame to appeal to the High Court is unique to each case and will take nearly 6 years to conclude. Following which, the accused can re appeal their cases in the Supreme Court.”

“Thereafter, the High Court can provide evidence to the Supreme Court if the case against the two accused has viable amount of incriminating evidence. Of course, if all else fails, in terms of appeals, the convicted can apply for a clemency petition to the President for pardon. The entire process is lengthy; quick action is not viable due to the amount of evidence, arguments and documents that require to be scrutinized before judgments like the death penalty can be given the green signal,” the criminal lawyer said.

While the counsel of the accused prepares to move their fight to higher courts of law, the prison’s department has begun to work out the logistics of transporting the accused. Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Mr. V. K Singh said, “The convicted won't be hanged today or tomorrow, there is said amount of judicial steps to be conducted prior to hanging. For now, Aneeq and Akbar will have go on trial in other states. Heightened security measures will be taken to ensure the transportation of the convicted."

Speaking further on the matter, DIG Prisons B. Saidaiah said, “Along with the local police, coordination with the other states’ law enforcement bodies, the decision of transporting the convicts either via flight or railway, will have to be taken. The mode of transportation will be decided based on a number of factors not limited to security and should take place in all probability in the next 15 days.”

“As the orchestration of transport is being decided, the convicted will continue to remain in the segregated barracks, exclusive from the main prison population to ensure there are no security risks”, he said.