With the decks having been cleared for the hanging of Shabnam and her paramour Salim - both accused of killing seven members of Shabnam's family - the stage is now set for the first Indian woman to be taken to the gallows in Independent India.

Shabnam and Salim were convicted and awarded death sentence for the multiple murders by the sessions court and the Allahabad High Court before the Supreme Court upheld the verdict. Shabnam had filed a mercy petition before the President, which has now been turned down.