Germany has no locus standi to seek clemency for Bhullar: India

NEW DELHI: India does not see any locus standi of Germany in the case of death row convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar for whom they are pressing clemency.

Amid reports that the German President and the Foreign Minister have written to their Indian counterparts seeking clemency for Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist Bhullar, sources here said the Khalistani terrorist was not extradited but deported under an executive order in 1995 and hence, there is no ground for Germans to intervene.

"There is no locus standi, legally, of Germany to seek clemency for Khalistani terrorist," sources said, noting that Germany has in the past also made efforts for commutation of Bhullar's death penalty into life imprisonment.

Last month, the Supreme Court had dismissed Bhullar's plea for commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on ground of delay in deciding his mercy plea. Bhullar was given death penalty for triggering a bomb blast here in September 1993, killing nine people and injuring 25 others, including then Youth Congress President M S Bitta.