The 2012 clemency petition for Ajmal Kasab was a public appeal submitted to the President of India requesting that the death sentence imposed on Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving terrorist of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, be commuted to life imprisonment.[1]
The petition was organised by Mumbai-based advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry following the dismissal of Kasab's judicial appeals and before the disposal of his constitutional mercy petition. It was signed by more than 200 members of Indian civil society, including lawyers, academics, journalists, writers, artists, retired public officials and human rights activists.[1]
The signatories stated that their appeal was based on principled opposition to capital punishment rather than support for Kasab or his actions.[2]
Background
Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving terrorist of the ten gunmen who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was convicted by a special court in Mumbai on 3 May 2010 on multiple charges, including murder, waging war against India and offences under anti-terrorism legislation. He was sentenced to death on 6 May 2010. The conviction and sentence were subsequently upheld by the Bombay High Court on 21 February 2011 and by the Supreme Court of India on 29 August 2012.[3][4]
Following the dismissal of his judicial appeals, Kasab submitted a mercy petition to the President of India under Article 72 of the Constitution. During the pendency of the petition, a group of lawyers, academics, writers, journalists and human rights activists submitted a separate public appeal requesting that his death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. The petition argued that the death penalty should not be imposed regardless of the nature of the atrocity and described the appeal as an affirmation of opposition to capital punishment rather than a defence of Kasab's crimes.[5][6]
President Pranab Mukherjee rejected Kasab's mercy petition on 5 November 2012 following the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Kasab was executed by hanging at Yerawada Central Jail in Pune on 21 November 2012.[7][8]
Petition
The clemency petition was organised by Mumbai-based advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry following the exhaustion of Ajmal Kasab's judicial remedies. Addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee, it requested that Kasab's death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment under the President's constitutional power of clemency.[1][5]
The signatories stated that their appeal was founded on principled opposition to capital punishment rather than sympathy for Kasab or justification of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They argued that the abolition of the death penalty was consistent with international human rights principles and urged the President to commute the sentence irrespective of the gravity of the crimes.[6][9]
The petition was signed by members of civil society from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including lawyers, academics, journalists, writers, artists, retired civil servants and human rights activists. Following President Mukherjee's rejection of Kasab's mercy petition on 5 November 2012, the clemency request became infructuous, and Kasab was executed on 21 November 2012.[8]
Signatories
The following individuals were identified as signatories to the 2012 clemency petition requesting that the death sentence imposed on Ajmal Kasab be commuted to life imprisonment.[10]
| No. | Name | Occupation / Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. K. Jayasree | A gender activist | |
| 2 | Aakar Patel | Journalist | Journalist and author. |
| 3 | Aamir Bashir | Actor and Director | |
| 4 | Abbas Kazmi | Lawyer | Defence counsel during Ajmal Kasab trial. |
| 5 | Abdul Wahab Khan | Lawyer | |
| 6 | Abha Bhaiya | Indian feminist activist and cofounder of Jagori Rural Charitable Trust | |
| 7 | Achin Vanaik | Political scientist and author | |
| 8 | Aditi Khanna | Senior Correspondent, Press Trust of India | |
| 9 | Ajaya Kumar Singh | a Catholic priest, and human rights activist | |
| 10 | Akshay Pathak | ||
| 11 | Amba Kak | Researcher | |
| 12 | Amin Solkar | Lawyer | |
| 13 | Amita Chatterjee | ||
| 14 | Amitabha Pande | ||
| 15 | Amrita Nandy | Jawaharlal Nehru University | |
| 16 | Amrita Shodhan | School of African and Asian Studies, UK | |
| 17 | Andaleeb Alam | Social Worker | |
| 18 | Anish Grewal | Entrepreneur | |
| 19 | Anita Cherian | Asst. Prof, Eng. Dept, Indraprastha | |
| 20 | Anjali Dave | Tata Institute of Social Sciences | |
| 21 | Anju Talukdar | Assistant project co-ordinator of the Disability Law Unit, advocacy for various social issues. | |
| 22 | Anu Salelkar | Anubhuti Trust | |
| 23 | Anuj Bhagwati | Entrepreneur | |
| 24 | Anuradha Chenoy | Adjunct Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs | |
| 25 | Anusha Rizvi | Consultant on Gender, Law, and Human Rights | |
| 26 | Apoorva Kaivar | Lawyer | |
| 27 | Aruna Roy | Indian social activist and professor | |
| 28 | Aseem Shrivastava | A Delhi based environmental economist, activist, and a writer | |
| 29 | Ashish Kothari | an activist and researcher focusing on environment, development, democracy, and alternatives | |
| 30 | Ashok Agarwaal | A Civil Rights Group Advocate | |
| 31 | Babloo Loitongbam | Human rights activist | |
| 32 | Babu Mathew | Professor of Law | |
| 33 | Balaji Narasimhan | Professor | |
| 34 | Beena Choksi | Social Activist | |
| 35 | Bhairavi Sanghi | Designer | |
| 36 | Bharti Ali | Development professional and social activist | |
| 37 | Bhaskar Hazarika | Film director makes films in Assamese | |
| 38 | Binoo John | Journalist based in New Delhi | |
| 39 | Biraj Patnaik | ||
| 40 | Bondita Acharya | Director of Purva Bharati Educational Trust | |
| 41 | Brinda Bose | Professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | |
| 42 | Byatha N. Jagadeesh | Lawyer | |
| 43 | Chetan Mali | Lawyer | |
| 44 | Colin Gonsalves | Senior Advocate, Supreme Court. | Senior Advocate; founder of Human Rights Law Network. |
| 45 | Dale Luis Menezes | Assistant Professor of History Global Studies University | |
| 46 | Deepti | Saheli | |
| 47 | Devaki Jain | Development Economist and Writer | Development economist and writer. |
| 48 | Dilip D’Souza | Journalist | |
| 49 | Dilip Simeon | Public intellectual | |
| 50 | Dr Ambrose Pinto SJ | Administrator, St Joseph’s Evening Colleges, Bangalore | |
| 51 | Dr Sandeep Bakshi | Postdoctoral Fellow, English. | |
| 52 | Dr. Akhil Katyal | Assistant Professor Delhi University | |
| 53 | Dr. Madhav Thambisetty | Professor of Medicine | |
| 54 | Dr. Prashant Kidambi | Lecturer in History, Univ. of Leicester. | |
| 55 | Dr. Walter Fernandes | North Eastern Social Research Centre | |
| 56 | Dunu Roy | Social activist, political ecologist, social scientist, and Director of the Hazards Centre (New Delhi) | |
| 57 | Flavia Agnes | Lawyer | |
| 58 | Forum Against Opression of Women, Mumbai | ||
| 59 | Gabriele Dietrich | Sociology Professor at the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary | |
| 60 | Gana Kurinji Shanmugasundaram | Vice-president, PUCL, (Tamil Nadu & Puduchery) | |
| 61 | Gaurav Sinha | Lawyer | |
| 62 | Gautam Babbar | United Nations | |
| 63 | Gautam Patel | Lawyer | |
| 64 | Gayatri Menon | Social scientist, activist | |
| 65 | Geeta Thatra | Research Fellow, Tata Institute of Social Sciences | |
| 66 | Gopal Krishna | Member, Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties (CFCL) | |
| 67 | Gulnar Bandukwalla Pruisken | Entrepreneur | |
| 68 | HAQ: Centre for Child Rights | ||
| 69 | Harish Dhawan | Associate Prof. in Eco, Univ. of Delhi | |
| 70 | Harsh Bora | Lawyer | |
| 71 | Harsh Kapoor | Indian sociologist, internet activist, and human rights defender | |
| 72 | Harsh Mander | Social Activist, NAC Member | Former IAS officer and social activist. |
| 73 | Jacob Matthan | Social Influencer | |
| 74 | Jagmohan Singh | Politician and a member of Aam Aadmi Party (presently) | |
| 75 | Jamal Kidwai | Sixth Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia | |
| 76 | Jashodhara Dasgupta | Independent researcher, policy analyst and community action expert | |
| 77 | Javed Iqbal | Journalist | |
| 78 | Jayasree Subramanian | Tata Institute of Social Sciences | |
| 79 | Jeny Antony | Indian actress and model | |
| 80 | Jinee Lokaneeta | Associate Professor, Political Science | |
| 81 | Joe Athialy | ||
| 82 | Jyoti Punwani | Journalist | |
| 83 | K. P. Shankaran | Lecturer (Retd) in Philosophy | |
| 84 | Kalpana Kannabiran | Director of Research and Legal Outreach at the Asmita Resource Centre for Women in Secunderabad | |
| 85 | Kalyani Menon Sen | Feminist Learning Partnerships | |
| 86 | Kamal Mitra Chenoy | ||
| 87 | Kamayani Bali Mahabal | Mumbai-based human rights lawyer, feminist, and journalist | |
| 88 | Kamla Bhasin | Social Scientist | Feminist author and activist. |
| 89 | Kanamma Raman | Rights activist, and former Professor in Politics at the University of Mumbai’s Department of Civics and Politics | |
| 90 | Kareem Sait | ||
| 91 | Kasim Sait | Lawyer | |
| 92 | Kavita Punjabi | Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai | |
| 93 | Kiran Bhatty | Independent Researcher | |
| 94 | Kiran Shaheen | Gender justice activist and journalist from Bihar | |
| 95 | Kritika Agarwal | ||
| 96 | Kunjam Pandu Dora | Adivasi (indigenous) leader and human rights activist from Andhra Pradesh | |
| 97 | Lalita Ramdas | Activist, actively involved in promoting alternative education, gender sensitivity, secularism | |
| 98 | Laxmi Murthy | a women’s right activist | |
| 99 | Madhoo | ||
| 100 | Madhu Sarin | Psychoanalyst | |
| 101 | Madhumita Dutta | Activist, assistant professor at the Ohio State University since 2017 | |
| 102 | Maharukh Adenwalla | Lawyer | |
| 103 | Mahasveta Devi | Writer | |
| 104 | Mahmood Farooqui | Historian, Artist, Filmmaker. | Writer, filmmaker and Dastangoi performer. |
| 105 | Malani S | ||
| 106 | Manisha Sethi | Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association | |
| 107 | Manohar Elavarthi | Praja Rajakiya Vedike, Bangalore | |
| 108 | Mansoor Nazeer | Author | |
| 109 | Mary Scaria | Lawyer | |
| 110 | Mayank Misra | Lawyer | |
| 111 | Meenal Baghel | Editor, Mumbai Mirror | |
| 112 | Meghna Vesvikar | Social Work, Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai | |
| 113 | Mukul Mahant | Social Activist | |
| 114 | Murtaza Danish Husaini | Actor and Dramatist. | |
| 115 | N. Jayaram | Journalist | |
| 116 | Nachiket Udupa | Indian think tank | |
| 117 | Naima Shaikh | Lawyer | |
| 118 | Namisha Gupta | Author | |
| 119 | Namita Kohli | Student | |
| 120 | Nandini Dey | ||
| 121 | Nandita Das | Actress | Actress and filmmaker. |
| 122 | Naresh Fernandes | Writer | |
| 123 | Navsharan Singh | Human rights activist and feminist researcher | |
| 124 | Neeraj Malilk | Indian feminist, academic, and civil rights activist | |
| 125 | Neha Choksi | Women empowerment activist | |
| 126 | Neha Mujumdar | ||
| 127 | Nikhil Dey | Indian social activist | |
| 128 | Nikhil Kumar | ||
| 129 | Nikita Agarwal | ||
| 130 | Nisha Biswas | Activism,human rights, democracy, and minority rights | |
| 131 | Paari Vendan | Lawyer | |
| 132 | Padma Deosthali | Researcher and policy advocacy | |
| 133 | Padmini Mirchandani | Publisher | |
| 134 | Parul Gupta | Language Teacher | |
| 135 | Peoples’ Union for Democratic Rights | ||
| 136 | Pritam Bhatty | Artist | |
| 137 | Priyanka Vegad | Lawyer | |
| 138 | Prof Rupin Desai | Professor of English (retd) | |
| 139 | Puneet Kohli | ||
| 140 | Purnima Gupta | A feminist and women’s rights activist | |
| 141 | Radha Thomas | Singer | |
| 142 | Rafiul Alom Rahman | Student | |
| 143 | Rahul Roy | Indian actor, producer and model | |
| 144 | Rakhee Joshi | Consultant, Social Research | |
| 145 | Rana Behal | Teach history at Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi | |
| 146 | Rashmi Gera | ||
| 147 | Rebecca Mammen John | Lawyer | |
| 148 | Reena George | Ph.D. Student | |
| 149 | Richa Berry | Actor | |
| 150 | Richa Minocha | Member Secretary, Jan Abhiyan Sanstha, Himachal Pradesh | |
| 151 | Rimple Mehta | JU-SYLFF Doctoral Fellow, Jadavpur University | |
| 152 | Rituparna Borah | ||
| 153 | Ruchi Gupta | Public policy practitioner | |
| 154 | Ruth Sequeira | ||
| 155 | S. Anand | Publisher, Navayana | |
| 156 | S. Thambisetty | Professor, LSE | |
| 157 | Sabeena Gadihoke | Indian academic and filmmaker | |
| 158 | Sagari R Ramdas | Veterinary scientist | |
| 159 | Sameer Sain | Entrepreneur | |
| 160 | Samira Sheikh | ||
| 161 | Sanchia de Souza | A historian of food and India from Mumbai | |
| 162 | Sankar Sen | IPS, Retd Director, National Police Academy; DG (Investigations, NHRC) | |
| 163 | Sashwati Mishra | ||
| 164 | Saumya Bahuguna | Social Worker | |
| 165 | Saumya Uma | Consultant on Gender, Law and Human Rights | |
| 166 | Shakil Ahmad | Lawyer | |
| 167 | Shalini Gera | Human rights lawyer | |
| 168 | Shankar Raman | Cinematographer | |
| 169 | Shankar Singh | social and political activist | |
| 170 | Shivam Vij | Journalist | |
| 171 | Shreela Manohar | Researcher and Activist | |
| 172 | Shruti Gupta | Telecom Professional | |
| 173 | Siddharth Narrain | Alternative Law Forum | |
| 174 | Siddhartha Sharma | LL.M student, Berkeley | |
| 175 | Simin Lakhani | ||
| 176 | Sneha Krishnan | ||
| 177 | Sonal Shah | Editor | |
| 178 | Srila Roy | ||
| 179 | Suchi Pande | Accountability Research Center, School of International Service, American University | |
| 180 | Sujato Bhadra | Professor, Activist (W.B) | |
| 181 | Sukla Sen | ||
| 182 | Sumi Krishna | Feminist scholar and writer based in Bangalore | |
| 183 | Surabhi Chopra | Law Professor. | |
| 184 | Suroor Mander | Advocate | |
| 185 | Surya Shankar Dash | ||
| 186 | Susan Abraham | Lawyer | |
| 187 | Swarnlata Mahilkar | Feminist activist | |
| 188 | Swastayan Roy | Journalist | |
| 189 | Tara Chambers | ||
| 190 | Tarun Bhartiya | Documentary film maker | |
| 191 | Urvija Priyadarshini | Ph.D. Student | |
| 192 | V. Venkatesan | Journalist | |
| 193 | Valmiki Naik | ||
| 194 | Ved Kumari | Professor of Law | |
| 195 | Veena Gowda | Lawyer | |
| 196 | Vijay Hiremath | Lawyer | |
| 197 | Vijay Raghavan | Tata Institute of Social Sciences | |
| 198 | Vivek Sundara | Ph.D student of Tata Institute of Social Sciences | |
| 199 | Vrinda Grover | Lawyer | Human rights lawyer. |
| 200 | Yug Mohit Chaudhry | Lawyer | Lawyer associated with the clemency petition. |
| 201 | Zubin Bharucha | Cricket Coach |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Over 200 Indians had urged Prez Pranab not to hang Kasab. Oneindia(21 November 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Kasab execution represents Indian death penalty backslide. Amnesty International(21 November 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ 26/11 terror attacks case: Supreme Court upholds Kasab's death sentence. The Indian Express(29 August 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Bombay HC upholds Kasab's death sentence. The Hindu(21 February 2011). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ajmal Kasab's mercy petition last among 12 pending petitions in President Pranab Mukherjee's office. The Economic Times(31 October 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kasab execution represents Indian death penalty backslide. Amnesty International(21 November 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Mercy denied: The execution list before NDA. The Indian Express(26 July 2015). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kasab executed at Yerawada Jail. India Today(22 November 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Terrorists, mercy petitions and the great hypocrisy. The Hindu(11 December 2012). Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ List of People Who Signed Ajmal Kasab’s Mercy Petition. Advocatetanmoy Law Library(13 February 2019).