Jabalpur: The 26-year-old schoolteacher convicted of raping a four-year-old girl in Satna district has refused to take the help of legal aid, claiming that his personal lawyer will file an appeal for him in the Supreme Court.Satna district court on Sunday had issued the “death warrant” — final order for execution — against him. Jabalpur jail officials had received the death warrant over e-mail the same day. The original orders, however, reached Jabalpur Central Jail on Monday.After which the convict, Mahendra Singh Gond was informed about the orders. “We informed him about the orders of the court and asked whether he needs any help from legal services, he refused it saying that his personal lawyer would move an appeal for him apex court and requested us to inform his lawyer in New Delhi. His lawyer has been informed about the death warrant issued against him,” Jailor R K Mishra told TOI.Gond had abducted the child on the night of June 30, 2018, raped her in the jungles and dumped her there, thinking she was dead. Her family members found her in the wee hours, barely alive, and took her to hospital. The state government immediately had her airlifted to Delhi..Local court sentenced the accused of capital punishment on September 19, and later the sentence was confirmed by high court on January 25. From crime to confirmation of death sentence, it took only seven months.In the meantime, jail officials had started preparations. As per the norms, he was informed about the decision of the court and his counsel were also informed, said sources. There is a time of 15 days for making an appeal before the apex court, in the meantime, he would be shifted to the solitary confinement, as per the jail norms for the convicts whose death warrant has been issued, added sources. As per the death warrant, Gond would be hanged on March 2.

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