Charges framed as all gang rape accused plead not guilty

A file photo of the Saket District Court complex where a fast-track court has been set up to hear the Delhi gang rape case.

The five accused in the December 16, 2012 Delhi gang rape case on Saturday pleaded not guilty to all charges framed against them and sought trial, which will begin on February 5.

The charges framed by a special fast-track court, after it found prima facie evidence in the police charge sheet, include murder, gang rape, unnatural offences, kidnapping, dacoity, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.

The proceedings are being conducted in-camera and, on the request of the prosecution, the court on January 21 restrained the media from publishing any news relating to the proceedings.

Almost all the charges that the Delhi Police slapped on the accused have been framed by the court. The court added a new charge under Section 366 (kidnapping with intent to force the victim into illicit intercourse) of the IPC.

The accused are bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Singh. The sixth accused is a juvenile, and the matter is proceeding before a Juvenile Justice Board.

On January 3, the Delhi Police filed the charge sheet in a magisterial court, which took cognisance of it on January 5. On January 17, the case was committed to the special fast-track court, where arguments started on January 24.