The Karnataka High Court Bengaluru on Wednesday upheld the Capital Punishment to rapist-murderer Umesh Reddy.

Reddy through his counsel Advocate BN Jagadish had appealed court to convert his capital punishment into life sentence as he was in a lodged alone in a single cell Hindalaga Jail in Belagavi since 10 year and there was a delay in considering his mercy petition.

Keeping aside his argument that the President’s Office delayed in taking up his application of mercy petition, the court said it couldn’t be said he was lodged in single cell. However, the court has given him six week time to file a suit with Supreme Court.

The High Court Bench consisted of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur said the court has given him six week time to approach the Apex Court as it was a case of highest punishment.

In 2006, a Fast Track court sentenced Reddy to death for the rape and murder of the widow. He challenged the penalty in the High Court which ultimately upheld it after a split verdict. In 2012, he wrote to the State government, but it rejected his mercy plea.