On March 22, 2013, the Delhi High Court lifted the gag order on Indian media in relation to the deadly December 16, 2012 Delhi rape case. The court said that the media will now be allowed to report in person and it will not be necessary to use cameras to record proceedings, as they have been doing so far.
A reporter from each publication will be allowed into the court room to witness the proceedings. The rape case is being heard in a fast track court in Saket. So far the court has recorded statements of about 55 witnesses and on Thursday the court recorded the 60th prosecution witness in the case.
One of the accused in the case – Ram Singh, has passed away after an alleged suicide in Tihar Jail. The trial is now being faced by the remaining accused in the case, namely Vinay, Mukesh, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta. Among the regular charges of rape and murder, the accused have also been held for dacoity.
The four people have been accused for the murder and rape of a 23-year-old girl who was a paramedical student. The accused had also attacked the victim’s friend during the incident and thew them out of a running bus. The fifth accused is a minor and is facing trial in the juvenile justice board.
