Delhi gang-rape convict's release: DCW chief may approach Hamid Ansari; is the move too late?

New Delhi: Even as media reports are suggesting that the juvenile convict of Delhi gang-rape case has been released, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal says that she has now knocked the door of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) asking not to precipitate the matter until the Supreme Court hears the Special Leave Petition (SLP) on tomorrow.

The DCW chief took to Twitter to confirm the news:

Just wrote to Juvenile Justice Board that SC is hearing matter tomorrow, case is subjudice, requesting that juvenile should not be released — SwatiMaliwal JaiHind (@SwatiJaiHind) December 20, 2015

Swati Maliwal writes to Juvenile Justice Board requesting to nt release juvenile convict until matter is heard in SC pic.twitter.com/oeiWfRwjSf — ANI (@ANI_news) December 20, 2015

In another tweet Swati says that she is likely to meet vice president over the issue:

Never said dat Hon'ble President didnt give time n dats y petition delayed in SC. Wrong info. Infact Vice President gave time imm, grateful — SwatiMaliwal JaiHind (@SwatiJaiHind) December 20, 2015

In a late night parade yesterday, the DCW chief filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the release of the juvenile convict in Nirbhaya gang- rape case. The apex court has decided to hear the petition tomorrow.

SC accepted r petition. Matter listed on Monday as Item No 3. Case subjudice now. Nirbhaya rapist should not be released until case heard. — SwatiMaliwal JaiHind (@SwatiJaiHind) December 19, 2015

But the matter of concern is - will DCW's move to stop the juvenile's release bear any fruit?

Notably, while speaking exclusively to Zee Media, Nirbhaya's mother said, “Had NCW's move come a bit early, the juvenile's release could have been stopped. But, I think it's too late now.”

The parents of the victim will now hold a protest march at Jantar Mantar, which was earlier slated to be held at India Gate, but because of the imposition of Section 144 in the area, they were not allowed.

Yesterday, the juvenile was moved out of Delhi even as distraught parents of the victim strongly kept on opposing his release. The parents were briefly detained by the police after they held a protest against the release of the convict.

As per media reports, the convict was taken to an undisclosed location from a correction home in North Delhi amid concerns that there was threat to his life. They said the juvenile has been kept under observation of an NGO under protection of Delhi Police.

The convict is likely to walk free from the undisclosed location today, in adherence to the existing legal provision, the sources added. Delhi government has said it had submitted a rehabilitation plan for the juvenile convict.

The convict in Nirbhaya gang-rape case is now 20 years old. He was a juvenile in 2012 when he committed the heinous crime along with his friends in a moving bus in the capital.

The court found him guilty of raping and assaulting the victim, who later died in hospital, along with five accomplices.

Due to being a juvenile when the crime was committed, he was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act and was ordered to be kept in a remand home for three years. He was to be released on December 20.