Delhi gangrape case: Proceedings against Ram Singh abated

New Delhi, Mar 13: The fast track court trying the five accused in the Delhi gangrape case has abated proceedings against one of them

as he died at the Tihar Jail here on Mar 11.

The 35-year-old was the driver of the bus in which the victim was brutally attacked on the night of Dec 16, 2012. The prosecution had named him as the main accused in the case.

However, Ram Singh was found hanging at his cell in Jail No 3 by his fellow inmates and jail authorities around 5.45 a.m on Monday. As per the post mortem report, he breathed his last between 4.30 a.m and 4.45 a.m.

Ram Singh's family members averred that he could not have committed hanged himself with just one hand. They pointed out that doctors had inserted a rod into his right hand after he got badly injured in an accident some years ago.

Ram Singh's father said that his late son had told him about being sodomised inside the jail recently and receiving death threats.

Delhi Police also confirmed that some persons had conspired against Ram Singh and cited transcripts of phone coversations which "revealed the plot to kill the gangrape accused" on the way to the trial court.

The police said that several phone calls were found to have been made from inside the Tihar jail in Jan. "A jail inmate, who is accused in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, was also reportedly using a cellphone from inside Tihar Jail and had made several calls to Delhi-based people," the police added.

On Wednesday, Ram Singh's counsel VK Anand said that "Since the accused (Singh) is dead and the court has also been informed about his death, the proceedings against him are abated (void)."

Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna had asked for an inquiry report from officials at Tihar Jail after getting to know about Ram Singh's death. Accordingly, the Superintendent of Jail No 3 submitted a preliminary report.

OneIndia News