Patiala: After the execution of Yakub Memon, the focus is once again shifted to Patiala Central Jail, where former chief minister Beant Singh's assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana faces death sentence.
Rajoana, along with Jagtar Singh Hawara was arrested for their roles in the CM's assassination in 1995. Both of them were given death sentence by a CBI court in 2007. While Hawara's appeal for relief from death penalty was reduced to life sentence by the high court, Rajoana never appealed against the verdict.
Rajoana's execution wasn't carried out following a political outcry which engaged both, the SAD and the state Congress. The SGPC at the insistence of SAD had filed a mercy petition before the President's office in 2012, which was forwarded to the Home Ministry for recommendation.
Union Home Ministry , based on the appeal issued a stay on the execution of Rajoana. Later, CM Parkash Singh Badal along with Sukhbir Singh Badal met the then President Pratibha Patil and sought clemency for Rajoana.
However, the stay on the sentence is in order until word is heard from the President.
