Paving way for the trial to begin, a Sewri fast-track court on Wednesday framed charges against the six accused involved in the rape of a student from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss).
The accused, Harshvardhan Yadav, Anish P Borkataki, Vinamra Soni, Jaskaran D Bhullar, , Dev Kolabawala and Kundan Raj Borgohain - have been charged of gang rape. Borgohain is the only accused who is out on bail in the case.
Additional sessions judge SD Jagmalani read out the charges to the accused, huddled in the witness box. They had all pleaded not guilty.
The court charged them under section 376 (g) of IPC for gang rape. The case will come up for hearing on January 13.
One of the accused, Bhullar, fell down during the proceedings as he was feeling dizzy. His lawyer Harshad Ponda told the court that Bhullar was suffering from chicken pox and was denied medical treatment in jail.
The court directed the jail authority to give Bhullar medical treatment and permitted the five accused, who are in judicial custody, to talk to their parents over the phone.
On April 12, 2009, the victim, a 23-year-old US national, had gone for a party at Cafe XO in Govandi with a friend and the accused. After the party, the victim was taken to Borgohain’s flat in Andheri where she was allegedly raped. A case was registered on April 14.
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