Delhi: Gang rape, murder charges framed against juvenile

Gang rape and murder charges were ordered to be framed on Thursday by a juvenile justice board against the minor accused of brutally raping along with five adults a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in New Delhi on December 16.

The assaulted victim was shifted to a Singapore hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries on December 29.

Finding prima facie evidence against the 17-year-old juvenile, Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel ordered framing of charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code dealing with gang rape, murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences, attempt to murder, dacoity, destruction of evidence and conspiracy. The Board has now fixed the case on March 6 for recording of evidence.

The charges of robbery, wrongful confinement and destruction of evidence have also been framed against the juvenile in another case of robbing a vegetable seller prior who had boarded the bus on the fateful night before the gang-rape victim and her friend allegedly became the prey of the minor and his five adult co-accused.

The panel will commence recording of evidence in the robbery case from March 12 against the juvenile.      

In both the cases, the minor claimed innocence and opted to contest the charges framed by the juvenile justice board. Earlier, the police had in its PIR (police investigation report, which is equivalent to charge sheet) filed before the JJB slapped charges of gang rape, murder, unnatural sex, dacoity, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence among other offences under the Indian Penal Code against the minor.         

Similar charges have been framed against the other five adult accused in the case, proceedings in which are being conducted in-camera at a special fast track court here.

The gang-rape victim had died on December 29 in a Singapore hospital as a result of the grievous injuries she had suffered when she was brutally raped and assaulted by the six accused, after she and her male friend boarded the bus on the December 16 night.