Accused claims impotence, says has not raped Danish woman

New Delhi, Feb 20: One of the six men arrested in connection with the gangrape of a 51-year-old Danish tourist in the city today told a Delhi court that he was impotent, whereupon he was directed to undergo a test to establish the same.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Sudhanshu Kaushik asked police to take the 55-year-old Shyam Lal alias Bhajni for a potency test and file a status report.

"Accused to undergo potency test in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a woman..." the court said while listing the matter for March 6. Another co-accused, Arjun, cited as being 21 years old has, meanwhile, claimed his age was 17 years and that he is a juvenile whom police have kept in illegal detention ever since his arrest in January. With regard to the above, the court has asked police to verify Arjun's age and report on the same.

The duo made the submissions when they were produced in court upon expiry of their 14 days' judicial remand. The court has extended the judicial custody of the six adult accused in the case —— Mahendra alias Ganja (24), Mohd Raja (22), Raju (23), Arjun, Raju Chakka (22) and Shyam Lal by another 14 days.

"The accused are remanded back to JC (judicial custody) for 14 days. They (should) be produced on March 6," the ACMM said. Eight persons, including two juveniles, have been apprehended in the case. The two juveniles are facing an inquiry before the Juvenile Justice Board here.

The police chargesheet states that the eight persons, all vagabonds, had robbed and gangraped the victim at knife-point on the night of January 14 after leading her to a secluded spot close to the Divisional Railway Officers' Club near New Delhi railway station. The eight have been booked under Sections 376(2)(G) (gangrape), 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 392 (robbery) of IPC.

PTI