30 witnesses in Delhi rape case charge sheet

To prove the complicity of those accused of raping and murdering the 23-year-old physiotherapy student last month, nearly 30 witnesses would be enlisted in the charge sheet, besides all the forensic and material evidence. The police have reconstructed the sequence of events leading up to the incident on the basis of statements given by the victim and her male friend, who was also attacked and seriously injured when he tried to rescue her, besides the statements of the policemen who rushed them to the Safdarjung Hospital and the doctors there. They would also try to ensure the deposition by the Singapore-based doctor who conducted the post-mortem. Statements of the victim and her male friend have already been recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The victim’s statement, recorded by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, may now be treated as her dying declaration and hence, admissible as evidence. The police on Tuesday said they had not yet received the post-mortem report, which is to be forwarded to the authorities here through the Indian High Commission in Singapore. The report may be given to a medical board to determine the cause of death, if necessary for legal purposes. “However, the post-mortem report in any case would be admissible as evidence,” said a police officer, adding that legal experts were being consulted to find ways to overcome any hurdle in this regard.   Sources in the police said it was psychologically devastating even for the investigating officer in the case to record gory details of the injuries inflicted on the victim. While there were reports that after throwing the victim and her friend out of the bus near the Mahipalpur flyover on the fateful night, the accused had also attempted to run them over, there was no confirmation in this regard from the police . The Hindu