New Delhi: Putting a confirmation stamp on the execution of Afzal Guru at 8 am on Saturday morning, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected the mercy plea of the Parliament attack convict on February 03.

“Afzal Guru’s case was again sent to me by President when I took over as Home Minister. I examined it in detail and I recommended it to President on January 21 and the file came back to me from President on February 03,” Shinde told reporters here.

Shinde told reporters that he signed the file on Afzal Guru’s hanging on February 04 and instructed authorities for further action.

“It was sent for further execution by me on February 04 and the judiciary confirmed the date on February 08 and the time was also confirmed,” he said.

Afzal Guru was convicted for his role in the attack on Parliament in 2001. He was hanged in Tihar jail 8 am on Saturday.