SC reserves verdict in Delhi gang rape case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on appeals by four accused in December 16, 2012 Delhi gang rape case challenging the Delhi High Court verdict upholding their death sentence.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R.Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan reserved the verdict after hearing the matter that was spread almost a year.

Accused Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur had moved the top court challenging the high court's March 13, 2014 verdict upholding their death sentences.

The Supreme Court had stayed the death sentence on Mukesh and Pawan on March 15, 2014 and that of Sharma and Thakur on June 3, 2014.

Hearing on the appeals by the four against the High Court order upholding their death sentence had commenced on April 4, 2016.

The four, Ram Singh and a juvenile were accused of gang rape and assault on a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a private bus.

The juvenile accused has since been released after completing mandatory probation period in remand home, while Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide while in incarceration.

The victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus after the crime and she died of grave intestinal injuries on December 29, 2012 at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

The apex court, while commencing its hearing, had said that "Let us hear the case as if fresh case is being raised" as the accused had contended that the high court was in a hurry to decide their appeals the moment they moved it against the trial court order.

While upholding the conviction and death sentence, the High Court had said: "Society's abhorrence to atrocious crimes perpetrated upon innocent and helpless victims has resulted in the death penalty being retained on the statute book to remind such criminals that human life is very precious and one who dares to take the life of others must lose his own life."