HC seeks reply from maker of 'India's Daughter' on convict's plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought reply from Leslee Udwin, the director of the controversial documentary on December 16, 2012 gang-rape, on a plea of convict Mukesh Singh seeking a CBI inquiry and Udwin's prosecution.

Justice Sunita Gupta also asked Delhi Police and BBC and advocate V.K. Anand, who had briefly represented Mukesh Singh during trial of the case to file their response by April 27.

Advocate M.L. Sharma, appearing for convict Mukesh Singh, has alleged that the film is "outcome of fraud and conspiracy" hatched by documentary maker Leslee Udwin, BBC and a private news channel with advocate V.K. Anand.

He claimed that Mukesh Singh was a victim of "conspiracy" and due to the film, he has been again fixed in the criminal scenario.

The plea stated that the broadcast of the interview of Mukesh Singh, allegedly taken inside Tihar Jail here in July 2013, should not be allowed.

The documentary is about the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman, who was brutally assaulted on December 16, 2012 in a moving bus in Delhi.

It kicked up a storm after one of the convicts Mukesh Singh was interviewed in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The convict's lawyer sought direction that any part of the documentary should not be used in any legal or judicial proceedings in any manner.

The plea said: "During the film, Mukesh Singh was told to do acting of an accused and to deliver script written dialogue. Mukesh Singh is illiterate. He only did acting in the said film, what he has spoken is not his own view or statements. It is neither his confession nor his own statement.

"The director and BBC have committed a serious crime against Mukesh Singh, the petition said and demanded that the film must be seized and those guilty be prosecuted.