Verdict Thursday in juvenile Dec 16 gang rape accused

The first verdict on the role of a minor accused in the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape case is expected Thursday.

The incident occurred in Munirka of New Delhi when a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern was beaten and gang raped in a bus in which she was travelling with her male companion.

The Juvenile Justice Board was supposed to give the verdict July 11. It deferred it till July 25, while holding him guilty for the separate robbery charge.

The accused, aged 17-and-half years at the time of the incident, may face a maximum punishment of a three-year stay in a special home, including the time already spent in detention during the proceedings in the board. He turned 18 last month.

The victim had succumbed to injuries Dec 29 at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.

The incident sparked protests across the country with some people demanding execution for the accused and some calling for chemical castration.