Supreme Court Questions Convict Over Payment Of Fine In Bilkis Bano Case

Bilkis Bano case: One of the petitioners argued that since the convicts did not pay the fine amounting to Rs 34,000, they had to undergo additional sentence which they have not.

The Supreme Court questioned one of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case today about depositing the fine imposed on him when the hearing on the pleas challenging his remission was in progress. Appearing for convict Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra told a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan that the convicts have approached the trial court in Mumbai and have deposited the fine imposed upon them.

"Does non-deposit of fine has a bearing on the remission? Did you apprehend that non-deposit of fine would have an impact on the merits of the case? First you ask for permission and now without permission you have deposited," the bench said.

Mr Luthra said non-deposition of fine does not affect the decision on remission but he had advised his clients to deposit the fine to "reduce the controversy".