Dec 16 gang-rape: Court seeks report on Ram Singh's death

A Delhi court, hearing the Dec 16 gang-rape case, Monday directed the Tihar Jail authorities to file a detailed report on the death of Ram Singh, one of the six accused in the sensational crime.

Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna's order came after counsel V.K. Anand, appearing for accused Mukesh (Ram Singh's brother), told the court that jail authorities have not yet complied with the court's March 11 order which had sought an inquiry report on his death.

Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the grill of his cell on March 11.

Meanwhile, another accused Vinay Sharma did not appear in the court and his counsel told the court that he was not well and sought that he and an another accused Akshay Thakur be provided necessary medication.

The counsel said that Thakur, who was in court, was also suffering from high fever and needs medical attention.

The court then directed the jail authorities to ensure that both accused were produced before the dispensary in the jail for a medical check up and that they were provided necessary medication.

The counsel told the court that he was apprehensive about the well being of his client Sharma. He added that Sharma fell sick while in judicial custody and alleged that the jail authorities were not doing anything for the security and health of the inmates.

During the cross-examination, a prosecution witness, who practices forensic odontology - the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence - told the court that the bite marks on the body of the victim were likely caused by two of the accused in the case.

The witness said that some of the bite marks on the victim reasonably matched the dental models of Ram Singh and probably that of Thakur.

The witness said: "Based on the bite marks visible in the photographs 1,2 and 4, and their comparison with the dental models of the five suspects, there is reasonable medical certainty that the teeth of Ram Singh caused the bite marks. The same comparison was not true for the remaining four suspects as having caused the bite marks (in those photos)."

He added: "Based on bite marks visible in photograph 5 and their comparison with the dental models of the five suspects, the teeth of Akshay probably or most likely caused the bite marks. The same comparison did not hold true for the remaining four suspects as having caused the bite marks."

The 23-year-old woman was brutally tortured and gang-raped in a moving bus Dec 16, 2012, by five men and a juvenile. She later died in a Singapore hospital.

The juvenile is facing proceedings before a Juvenile Justice Board, while the four other accused were put up for trial in the fast track court.