Mumbai, September 18
Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, sentenced to death for his role in the terrorist attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, has sent a mercy petition seeking clemency to President Pranab Mukherjee, Maharashtra Home Department officials confirmed today.

The petition, sent through the jailor of the Arthur Road Jail, is with the state Home Department, sources said. The petition being sent "via proper channels" will reach the President's office in due course.

According to the procedure, Kasab was given a certified copy of the Supreme Court verdict confirming his death sentence last week. He signed the acknowledgement and the document was forwarded to the apex court by officials at the Arthur Road Jail. The Supreme Court had confirmed Kasab's death penalty on August 29.

Kasab, who has access to legal services in jail, was advised to file a mercy plea which he has done, according to officials.

Predictably as news of Kasab filing his mercy petition came in, calls for its rejection began to be made. BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called for his mercy petition to be rejected.

The Shiv Sena, which wants Kasab's execution to be speeded up, also called for the rejection of his mercy plea immediately.