Delhi gang rape: Cops oppose use of Hindi by rape accused

The Delhi police on Tuesday opposed the plea of two of the four accused in the December 16 gang rape case for use of Hindi language during the trial proceedings as they do not understand English, calling it a ‘delaying tactic’.

"The applications have been filed after 63 witnesses have been examined, so it is purely a delaying tactic on the part of the accused and nothing more," Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan told a special court while responding to the plea of Mukesh and Akshay Singh.

Krishnan termed as ‘false’ the plea of defence lawyer M L Sharma that previous counsel V K Anand did not discuss facts and evidence with the accused.

"Accused Mukseh and Akshay be provided Hindi translation of testimonies of prosecution witnesses. I would not examine the witnesses," defence lawyer Sharma said, adding that they were being denied a fair trial.

Meanwhile, another accused sought a direction from the court that he be provided tuition inside Tihar jail as he has to appear in a test on April 7 for recruitment of clerks in the Indian Air Force.

Vinay Sharma, in his application plea before Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna, said he has to appear for written and other tests to be held for the recruitment of group 'C' civilian lower divisional clerks in the IAF.

The accused, in the plea filed through lawyer A P Singh, said he be provided ‘proper tuitions and books’ for helping him to prepare for the tests. The lawyer also opposed the day-to-day trial in the case saying he does not get time to consult the accused and sought that the proceedings he held every alternate day.

Opposing the plea, the prosecutor said, "Since the advocate (Sharma) had also appeared earlier for accused Mukesh, who was handed over the charge sheet in Hindi, the ground made out is patently false."

The court then reserved the order for March 28. It will hear arguments on Thursday on the bail plea of accused Vinay.The police has opposed the bail plea saying he may abscond and tamper with the evidence if enlarged on bail.

"The accused (Vinay) in his bail application has mentioned that he is a student of BA and his studies are affected. In this regard, it is submitted that Vinay has enough time to study in judicial custody," the police had said.

Initially five adult accused in the case were facing trial for allegedly gang-raping and assaulting a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus here on the night of December 16, 2012. With the proceedings against the main accused Ram Singh having abated after his death on March 11, the remaining four adult accused Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay and Pawan Gupta are facing trial in the case for rape and murder of the girl.     

The sixth accused in the case is a juvenile, who is facing proceedings before the juvenile justice board. The girl had died on December 29, 2012 in a Singapore hospital due to the grievous injuries she suffered when she was brutally assaulted by the six accused.