The Delhi Police on Monday opposed bail plea of one of the four accused in the December 16 gang-rape case in a special court, saying he may abscond and tamper with the evidence if enlarged on bail.
During the day, the start of proceedings in the case got delayed by an hour as Mukesh, another co-accused and brother of deceased Ram Singh, was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital after he complained of chest pain. later, he appeared before the court after doctors discharged him. The doctors said that Mukesh had gastric discomfort.
Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan, replying to the bail plea of accused Vinay Sharma, said he cannot be granted the relief on grounds of pursuing studies as he will have “enough time” to study in prison and moreover, he may abscond and tamper with the evidence in the case.
“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. In view of the above facts, the bail application of Vinay is strongly opposed as the main prosecution witnesses are yet to be examined and if bail is granted, he may jump the bail and tamper with evidence,” Krishnan told Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.
Earlier, Vinay had sought bail on grounds including that he has to attend his ailing mother in a hospital. The prosecution, in its reply, said Vinay’s mother is not hospitalised and was found in her house and “therefore, it is requested that the bail application of Vinay may kindly be dismissed for the sake of justice.”
During the proceedings, Ml Sharma, counsel for Mukesh and Akshay Singh, on Monday refused to cross-examine prosecution witnesses saying his clients were not aware of the charges framed against them as the trial is being conducted in English. “My clients do not understand English”, he said, adding the chargesheet be made available in Hindi and the proceedings be also conducted in the same language.
The special prosecutor, however, asked the judge to proceed with the recording of witnesses’ statements. Till date, 63 prosecution witnesses have already deposed and if the defence lawyer is trying to recall them then he is “just trying” to delay the proceedings, he said. The judge will decide Sharma’s plea on Tuesday seeking change of language of the trial.