Two Dec 16 convicts claim innocence in robbery case

Two men convicted in the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape case and facing trial for allegedly robbing a carpenter on the same day Friday claimed before a court they had not beaten up or robbed the victim in the bus as they were not in the vehicle.

Accused Vinay Sharma, recording his statement before Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash, said he had gone to a music event organised by a church in the DDA district park in Hauz Khas of south Delhi.

Akshay Thakur said he was not in the bus since he had left for his village in Bihar, a day prior to the incident.

Sharma and Thakur along with Mukesh and Pawan Gupta are facing trial for allegedly beating up and robbing a carpenter, Ram Adhar, before raping and assaulting a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus here.

They have been sentenced to death in the case, and the hearings on confirmation of the sentence are underway in the Delhi High Court.

Defence counsel of the accused A.P. Singh told court he would bring some witnesses to defend his clients and prove their innocence.

The court has now fixed March 15 for recording of the statement of the two other accused.

The court Jan 10 concluded its evidence in a robbery case against the Dec 16 gang rape convicts. A total of 37 prosecution witnesses were examined.