Gangrape accused seeks IGNOU's exam schedule for BA course

One of the accused in the December 16 gangrape case today sought a direction to IGNOU from the trial court to provide him a copy of the examination schedule for the first year of BA course.
Accused Vinay Sharma, who along with four others had allegedly gangraped a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus here, filed the plea in a fast-track court trying the case.
Vinay, in his petition, filed through his counsel A P Singh, said that he had taken admission in first year of BA programme of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in August last year.
The lawyer told the judge that IGNOU has not yet sent it exam schedule to Vinay and, therefore, the university should be directed to provide it to allow him to prepare for his examination.

Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan raised objection to Vinay's request, saying his parents could collect the date sheet or even his counsel could do the same.
Vinay said the university was not giving the schedule and "so it is difficult for me to prepare for my exams".

Additional Session Judge Yogesh Khanna asked the police to file its response to the plea.
Vinay has pleaded not guilt to the charge of raping the physiotherapy student and claimed trial. The charge of murder was added after the victim died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
Vinay had earlier asked the court to provide him with a tutor and reading material to help him prepare for the Indian Air Force clerical recruitment test.

Six persons, including a juvenile, were arrested soon after the incident. On March 11, the main accused Ram Singh was found hanged in his cell in Tihar jail. The juvenile is facing trial before Juvenile Justice Board
During the proceedings, the judge today expressed unhappiness over the accused' counsel proceeding slowly and asked the prosecution to supply the court the list of witnesses, who were yet to be cross-examined by the defence.