NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Mohd Arif alias Ashfaq against the death sentence awarded to him in Red Fort attack case of year 2000.
After an open court hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice U U Lalit pronounced the judgement, saying his guilt has been proved, we affirm the view taken by this court and reject the review petition.
Arif, a Pakistan national, was held guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy and waging war against the country.
On April 28, 2014, the court had stayed his execution.
Though Arif's review as well as curative petitions were earlier dismissed, his review plea was heard afresh.
This was done in line with a Constitution bench judgement of 2014 which allowed open court hearings in all death penalty cases.
The detailed judgement is still awaited.
As many as three people, including two Army jawans, were killed in the attack.
In August 2011, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence of arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Mohammad Arif for carrying out the December 2000 Red Fort attack. The apex court also dismissed his review petition later in August 2011.
However, in 2016, the apex court decided to re-hear his review petition.
In November 2005, the trial court had awarded Arif a death sentence. The trial court had also fined Arif Rs 4.35 lakh for the attack on December 22, 2000. The Delhi High Court, in 2007, upheld the death sentence to Arif.
