NEW DELHI, India, Feb. N 14, Reuter: Satwant Singh, the former Sikh constable convicted of killing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, filed an appeal today in the Indian Supreme Court challenging his conviction and death sentence.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) said the appeal by Satwant Singh, one of three Sikhs convicted in connecting with the December, 1984, assassination, was filed just two days before the deadline for appeals expires.
Satwant Singh, one of Mrs. Gandhi’s bodyguards, was sentenced in January, 1986, to hang after a 254day trial.
Two codefendants, police sub inspector Balbir Singh and civil servant Kehar Singh, were convicted of conspiracy to murder and also given death sentences. Both have filed appeals.
The sentences were confirmed on December 3. No dates for the hangings have been set and if the condemned men lose before the Supreme Court, India’s highest, their final avenue of appeal would be President Zail Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 20, 1987
