All Dec 16 accused raped victim: Court

The fast track court trying the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape case Tuesday refused to accept the claim of one of the accused Mukesh, who claimed that he was only driving the bus and had not participated in the gang-rape.

The court said all the accused are liable for gang-raping the victim.

"If the accused person had participated in the incident then the question as to who committed rape or who could not complete the act of rape become irrelevant for convicting the accused in gang rape," it said declining to accept Mukesh's argument.

"Hence, all the accused in pursuance of the conspiracy committed gang rape with the victim and thus convicted under section 376 (2) (g) (gang-rape) of the IPC," it added.

Mukesh had claimed he was driving the bus in which the victim and her friend were picked up on the night of 16 Dec and denied raping the victim, attacking her friend or robbing them of their belongings.