Supreme Court lawyer Dayan Krishnan has been appointed as the special public prosecutor by the Delhi Police to conduct trial in the December 16 gang-rape of a paramedical student who succumbed to injuries during the wee hours of Saturday at a Singapore hospital.
“It is Dayan Krishnan, an eminent lawyer... He has volunteered to do it free of cost. He will be assisted by two juniors,” Dharmendra Kumar, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), told PTI .
The senior police officer said the harshest punishment would be sought against five accused during the trial after filing the charge sheet by January 3, 2013.
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“We hope to file the charge sheet by January 3, 2013. Section 302 of the IPC, which is the penal section for murder, has been added in the FIR,” Mr. Kumar said, adding, “It will be our endeavour to ensure the harshest punishment in the book for the culprits.”
Police have slapped murder charges as well as sections 201 (destruction of evidence), 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC against the accused.
The special prosecutor would conduct the trial in a fast track court on a day-to-day basis.
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Later talking to PTI , Mr. Krishnan said, “I had given my consent to conduct the trial.”
Mr. Krishnan has been representing the NIA, the Delhi Police and other agencies at various judicial fora in many cases including the Nitish Katara murder case.