The fast-track court conducting the trial in the December 16 gangrape case of a 23-year-old girl in the moving bus will pronounce its verdict on September 10.
The trial concluded on Tuesday after 130 hearings.
Accused Mukesh admitted his presence in the bus while other accused Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur and Pawan Gupta denied the charges levelled against them.
Mukesh, who along with three other accused is facing murder charge, told additional sessions judge Yogesh Khanna during final arguments that he was only driving the bus and had not participated in any crime.
“My mere presence in the bus does not prove that I participated in the gangrape, loot and murder of the girl, who died in a Singapore hospital on December 29. I, on my own, have admitted that I was in the bus and was driving it and had never left my seat,” V.K. Anand, counsel for Mukesh, said.
The court, which started hearing final arguments from August 22, reserved its order after the prosecution and the defence counsel concluded their submissions.
“The arguments have ended now. I will be giving the judgment on September 10,” ASJ Khanna said.
Meanwhile, the defence lawyer for one of the accused moved a plea seeking the court to direct the Tihar authorities not to shift the undertrial to a new cell. The application was filed by A.P. Singh, the counsel for accused Vinay and Akshay. Akshay is currently lodged in a Tihar jail cell which is under CCTV surveillance.
“I request your lordship to pass order to the Tihar jail authorities not to transfer the cell of the accused (Akshay), in the interest of safety and security of the applicant/accused,”the plea said.