Minor rape case: Court to decide framing of charges

A Delhi court on Saturday fixed July 11 as the date when it will pronounce its order on whether charges were to be framed against two persons who have been arrested for allegedly raping a five-year-old in a rented accommodation.Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg, who is presiding over the

A Delhi court on Saturday fixed July 11 as the date when it will pronounce its order on whether charges were to be framed against two persons who have been arrested for allegedly raping a five-year-old in a rented accommodation.

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Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg, who is presiding over the special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, will pass his order in the case in which the two accused Manoj Shah, 22, and Pradeep Kumar, 20, have been arrested.

Meanwhile, the court also took on record a report filed by the jail authorities, in accordance with its order, to make appropriate arrangements for the “safety and security” of accused Pradeep lodged in Tihar Jail. Pradeep had alleged that he was beaten up by undertrials in the prison van.

The jail authorities, in its report, said from Pradeep would be now brought to the court in a separate vehicle from the jail and be lodged in a separate lock up.

A report was sought by the court from the jail superintendent and lock up in-charge, after Pradeep had complained to the judge that he was often beaten up by other undertrials while being brought to the court in the jail van.

Manoj and Pradeep are accused of brutally raping a five-year-old girl on April 15 in a building in Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar locality where the victim and the accused both lived.

The girl was rescued 40 hours later on April 17 with Manoj and Pradeep later being arrested from Bihar.

Delhi Police had on May 24 had filed a chargesheet against the duo under provisions of the POCSO Act relating to aggravated sexual assault and for offences including procuring a minor girl, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, attempt to murder and destruction of evidence under the IPC.

The offences, for which the accused have been chargesheeted, if proved, entails a maximum punishment of life term.