The Union Home Ministry has rejected the mercy plea of the main accused in the 2001 Parliament attack case Afzal Guru and recommended death penalty to him.

Reports said the Home Minister P. Chidambaram has sent the file to the secretariat of the President Smt. Pratibha Patil upholding the recommendations of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor who favoured death penalty to Guru.

Chidambaram has, in his 10 page note, also cited the judgments of the trial court, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court which favoured death penalty for Guru. The President will take a final decision on the issue.