Gangrape victim’s brother says he may go to court today

The family of the 23-year-old woman who died 13 days after being gangraped and tortured on a moving bus in South Delhi on Monday said they plan to go to the fast-track court in Saket where the case is being heard. Until now, no one from the family had been to any of the courts where the accused were being produced.

Proceedings at the fast-track court are being held in-camera and no member of the public is allowed inside the courtroom. The media has also been restrained from reporting on proceedings in the case.

The gangrape victim's brother said: "Now that the charges have been framed, we want to attend court proceedings from February 5. We have not been told about the procedural formalities. We will see if we are allowed."

Last Saturday, charges of murder, gangrape, kidnapping, unnatural offences were among those framed against five of the six accused — the sixth has been declared a juvenile by the Juvenile Justice Board.

"We are very happy that the charges have been framed. Now we want to attend court proceedings to see what happens at the trial. We did not attend the JJB proceedings for the sixth accused, and we are very disappointed with the verdict. We want to stay updated on daily basis on the case. My father has still to take a final call on whether we should go," the victim's brother said.

After the JJB ruled that the sixth accused was a juvenile, the victim's family spoke to police officers investigating the case and insisted that they appeal against the order in a higher court.

"The officers arranged a meeting with lawyers who advised us not to immediately consider an appeal. We were told to concentrate on the trial of the five accused for now. But we are also taking a second legal opinion. We might consider hiring our own lawyer later, if need be, for an appeal," the victim's brother said.

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