New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed the bail plea of Dara Singh, convicted for burning alive Australian Missionary Graham Stains and his two minor sons.

Chamber Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat declined to grant bail to Dara in view of the gravity of his offence.

Dara Singh, who had burnt alive Stains and his two sons in 1997 at Manoharpur in Orissa, was sentenced to death by the trial court which was later reduced to life imprisonment by the Orissa High Court.

According to the convict, Stains was involved in encouraging conversion from Hinduism to Christianity. His appeal against the High Court judgement is pending before the apex court.

The wife of the deceased, who left India recently, however, had pardoned Dara Singh.

Dara Singh was seeking his release on bail on the grounds that his mother, who is seriously ill, is undergoing treatment and there is nobody to look after her.

The petitioner, who has been convicted and sentenced for murdering another Christian missionary, has also been sentenced to life imprisonment in that case.

The petioner's prayer, for suspension of his sentence pending his appeal, was also declined by the court.

UNI