New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday framed charges of kidnapping and dacoity against four persons who are also facing trial in the December 16 gang-rape case.
The court put on trial accused Akshay Kumar Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma for the offences under various sections of the IPC, including sections 395 (dacoity) and 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person).
Six persons, including a juvenile, had allegedly beaten up and robbed a carpenter before raping and assaulting the 23-year-old girl in the moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, last year. The victim had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
Accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11. The juvenile is facing proceedings in the gang rape and murder case before Juvenile Justice Board.
Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash framed the charges against the four accused and fixed the matter for July 23 for recording testimonies of prosecution witnesses in the case after they pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed trial.
"It is alleged that on December 16, 2012 at about 8.45 pm at Munirka bus stand or road leading towards IIT flyover, you all (Akshay, Mukesh, Pawan and Vinay) in furtherance of your common intention along with one Ram Singh (since deceased) and one (juvenile)...Kidnapped or abducted Ram Adhar (carpenter) with intent to cause Ram Adhar to be secretly and wrongfully confined and you all thereby committed an offence punishable under section 365/34 IPC and within the cognisance of this court," the judge said.
The court also framed charges against them for offences punishable under sections 342 (wrongfully confining any person), 394 (person voluntarily causing hurt in committing or attempting to commit robbery), 412 (dishonestly receiving stolen property knowing that it was obtained by dacoity) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
The court had on July 10 directed for appointment of a government lawyer for the accused in the case saying that the proceedings were getting delayed due to the absence of defence counsel.
The accused are now represented through advocate Asim Ali, who has been appointed as legal aid counsel for them.
The police, in its 15-page charge sheet filed on March 15 in the robbery case, alleged that bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay, along with the juvenile, had snatched 35-year-old carpenter Ram Adhar`s mobile phone and Rs 1,500 after luring him into the bus.
Proceedings against Ram Singh have been abated following his death. The trial against the accused in the gang rape case is being conducted on a day-to-day basis by a special fast track court here.
PTI
