The December 16 gangrape convict, who had claimed that he was being regularly assaulted by other inmates, has been shifted to another prison which is under CCTV surveillance, Tihar Jail authorities told a Delhi court on Tuesday. Vinay Sharma is one of the four death row convicts involved in the gruesome gangrape and murder case that jolted the whole nation.
"The same matter has already been decided by competent authority and Vinay Sharma has been shifted from Central Jail number five to Central Jail number three on August 21 and Akshay is presently lodged in Central Jail number two with the direction to (conduct) proper surveillance and to keep in separate cell where CCTV cameras are installed," a single-page report filed before Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh by the superintendent of Tihar Central jail number five said.
"It is pertinent to mention here that convicts Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh alongwith other co-accused were previously transferred from Central Jail number five to Central Jail number two on May 13, 2015 by the direction issued from the PHQ for their safety and security due to lack of separate cells in Central Jail number five," it added.
The court is hearing final arguments in the robbery case in which the four convicts of December 16 gangrape and murder case -- Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh - are facing trial.
They were awarded death penalty by trial court in the gangrape and murder case which was later confirmed by Delhi High Court. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court. The gangrape victim had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.
On August 20, Vinay, through his counsel A P Singh, had moved an application in the court alleging he was assaulted by the inmates in Tihar Jail on August 15 and 16 respectively.