New Delhi, Feb 20 (TIWN) One of the four convicts on death row in the Nirbhaya gang rape-murder case on Thursday moved the Election Commission of India to challenge the rejection of his mercy petition.

Vinay Sharma has now challenged the Delhi government, raising questions on the timing of the rejection of his mercy petition. Convict Vinay Sharma's lawyer AP Singh has said the mercy petition was rejected when the Model Code of Conduct was in place in Delhi, making minister Manish Sisodia ineligible to reject the petition.

"We have filed a complaint in the Election Commission of India because the mercy petition of Vinay Sharma reached the Delhi government on January 30. At that time the government recommended the rejection. He was not an MLA or home minister of Delhi government because Model Code of Conduct was imposed," said AP Singh.

The lawyer has further argued that the digital signature of Manish Sisodia was needed and a screenshot received through WhatsApp was used to reject the mercy petition.

The lawyer said, "I want that the pride of the EC, President, Supreme Court and Home Ministry shouldn't be destroyed in this way."

In the petition, the lawyer has asked the Election Commission to take cognizance of the matter.

Meanwhile, convict Vinay Sharma tried to hurt himself inside the Tihar Jail. He hit his head on the wall and injured himself.

Sources in the Tihar Jail official said Nirbhaya convict Vinay Sharma was hurt after he hit his head against a wall in his cell on February 16. He was, however, stopped by a jail official and given treatment.