Dec 16 rape: accused taken ill, witnesses not examined

One of the accused in the December 16 gang rape case was not brought before the fast track court on Thursday due to ill-health.

One of the accused in the December 16 gang rape case was not brought before the fast track court on Thursday due to ill-health. Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna was informed that accused Pawan Gupta could not be brought to court as he has been referred to DDU hospital after which hearing was adjourned for Friday.

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Sub-inspector Pratibha Sharma, who had done the initial probe in the case, and CFSL official P K Gautam, who had photographed the bus in which the 23-year-old paramedic student was allegedly gang raped, had been summoned for but their statements could not be recorded in Pawan’s absence.

One of the police personnel who escorted co-accused Mukesh and Akshay Thakur to the court informed the judge that during his check-up at the jail dispensary, Pawan complained of ill-health following which he was referred to the government hospital.

Following this, the court deferred the examination.

Meanwhile, the medical report of accused Vinay Sharma, who is hospitalised in the DDU hospital following high fever, could not be furnished before the court.