A Delhi court has framed gang rape and kidnapping charges against five law students of Jamia Millia Islamia and put them on trial for allegedly confining and raping a minor girl at their residence last year.
Additional sessions judge Gulshan Kumar fixed the case for recording of prosecution’s evidence on July 12.
The court charged Pulkit Chaudhary, Amandeep Kadian, Sharad Shekhar Tomar, Roopenshu Pratap Singh and Vikas Punia for wrongfully keeping in confinement, abducting a person, gang raping and cheating by personation and common intention under the Indian Penal Code.
The five have also been charged under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
“That on September 15, 2012 at from servant quarter, all of you in furtherance of your common intention abducted and confined 16-year-old girl and also committed rape upon her and had penetrative sex with her several times while she remained in confinement with you and thereby committed offence punishable under section 363 (kidnapping), 378 (theft) 376 (2) (G) (gang rape) and 34 (common intention) and 6 and 12 of POCSO Act, 2012 and within my cognisance. And, I hereby direct that all the accused be tried for the above offence,” the judge said.
The five law students had allegedly gang raped the girl, who was held in captivity at the South Delhi residence of one of the co-accused, the police had said. The police had on December 4 last year arrested Pulkit, Amandeep, Sharad, Roopenshu and Vikas after a complaint was lodged at the Defence Colony Police Station here on September 15 by the girl’s parents.