Charge sheet against gang rape accused

The arguments on the Delhi gang rape case were completed on Friday. Hence charge sheet against the five accused is likely to be filed in the fast track court on Saturday. The 6th accused is declared as juvenile. Hence he will be tried in the Juvenile court as per juvenile laws.

Bus, driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, bus cleaner Akshay Thakur , gym instructor Vinay Sharma and fruit seller Pawan Gupta, who are the 5 accused in this case are currently kept at Tihar Central jail in New Delhi. Most probably, the fast track court may windup the case before end of this month. But, if the accused appeals in High Court and then in Supreme Court, the case may be dragged for a couple of months.

On the hand, the Union cabinet has approved an ordinance for enhancing the punishments in the rape cases, on Friday, based on the recommendations made by Justice Verma committee. The Union Cabinet in its new ordinance recommends for 20 years jail term that can be extended to life time or a death punishment in case of the death of the victim. The cabinet immediately forwards the file to the President Pranab Mukharji for approval of the ordinance. This itself shows that UPA government is sincere on its promise made to public in the peak of Delhi protests.

However, it didn’t bring down the age limit of the juvenile in rape cases in its latest ordinance. Hence the 6th accused in the case who is a juvenile but prime accused still had a chance to escape from any severe punishment.