Trial of Dec 16 gang-rape accused starts in robbery case

Statement of two police officials who were part of the probe recorded

The trial in a robbery case involving the December 16 gang-rape accused today commenced before a Delhi court which recorded statements of two police officials who were part of the probe into the case.

The court, which had on July 15 framed charges of kidnapping and dacoity against the four accused, recorded the statements of the two prosecution witnesses and listed the matter for further evidence on July 30.

The court had put on trial accused Akshay Kumar Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma for the offences under various sections of the IPC, including sections 395 (dacoity) and 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) for allegedly beating up and robbing a carpenter, Ram Adhar.

They are accused of having committed the robbery before allegedly raping and assaulting a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, last year. The victim had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29. Key accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11.

Besides them, a juvenile, who is facing proceedings in the gang-rape and murder case before Juvenile Justice Board, was recently convicted by the JJB in the robbery case.

During the recording of statement today, Delhi police official Ravinder Singh told Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash there was no delay in registration of FIR in the case.

He denied the suggestions of legal aid counsel Asim Ali, who appeared for the four accused, that the FIR was lodged at Vasant Vihar police station here on December 18 last year on instructions of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

"I myself have not seen the complainant in the police station at that time. Senior police officials were not present in the police station at the time of recording of the FIR. There was no delay in the registration of FIR," Singh said.

"It is incorrect to suggest that the FIR was registered on the direction and instructions of ACP. It is incorrect to suggest that I am deposing falsely," he said.