21 April,2009 07:06 PM IST | | MiD DAY Correspondent
One of the accused in the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) gangrape case, Vinamra Soni (21) was denied interim bail by the Sessions Court judge K P Joshi on Tuesday.
The accused, a student of Jai Hind college, appeared nervous and stayed away form media in the Sessions Court. He arrived at 2.30 pm at the court with his lawyer N D Patil, who had applied for the interim bail on Monday.
His bail was rejected on the basis that investigations were underway. Police in civil clothes filled the courtroom to make sure that the accused, who was absconding, would not get away.
The prosecution asked for his arrest, but Patil said to the judge, "Since my client is willing to surrender, there would be no need to arrest him." According to Patil, Soni will surrender after 6 pm at the Trombay Police station.
At the court, Soni was seen praying with his hands folded.
The judge forbade the media from interviewing Soni and also from publishing his picture. Around 11.30 am the judge slammed the media for flashing false reports about the accused receiving interim bail yesterday. Around 2.30 pm Soni entered court with his lawyer. He will be taken to Kurla court for police custody hearing on Wednesday.
Patil in defense of Soni said about the Indo-American girl who was allegedly gangraped, "He didn't force the victim to drink. She drank willing. She had agreed to come to Andheri."
While the prosecution said, "According to the statement of the auto driver who drove the boys to Kundan's residence in Andheri the boys were in an inebriated state and were vomiting. They showed clear cut signs of taking the girl to Andheri (W) with intentions towards the girl."
