The defence lawyer in the Delhi Gang rape has expressed doubt over the suicide of his client Ram Singh who was found hanging in his cell in the wee hours of Monday.
Without elaborating doubt on his suspicion on the suicide, Singh's lawyer VK Anand said, "I doubt if this is a case of suicide," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.
Anand also said that Singh showed no signs of mental distress during their last meeting and hence had no reason to take the drastic step.
"Ram Singh was not under mental stress. I do not think there was any reason for him to commit suicide. I am shocked to hear this news," Anand told CNN-IBN.
Singh, the prime accused in the gang rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, had filed a petition seeking transfer of his case outside the national capital citing security concerns.
"There were security concerns, so we wanted the case to be transferred out of Delhi. But Ram Singh was under no stress and was happy with the way the trial was going on," Anand said. Ealier, it was reported that the five adult accused in the case were shifted to isolated cells after the inmates beat them up.
Singh was found hanging in Tihar jail no. 3 in at 5 am on Monday.
According to various reports, Singh used his own clothes to hang himself. The body of the accused has been sent for autopsy at the Deen Dayal Hospital in Delhi.
Authorities have ordered a probe into the matter. Singh committed suicide on the day he was to appear in the fast-track court where the hearing of the case is ongoing.
His death pointed out the security lapse at Tihar Jail, as Singh was kept under 'suicide watch' after he along with the other four adult accused showed signs of depression.
The Union Home Ministry Monday has asked for a detailed report from the Tihar Jail administration on Singh's suicide.
Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said, "The Home Ministry has demanded a detailed report from the Delhi Police and the Tihar jail administration into the suicide of Ram Singh," ANI reported.
Singh and four others were charged with murder, gangrape, destruction of evidence, criminal conspiracy, dacoity, unnatural sex and common intent in the case.
The youngest accused in the case is a juvenile and kept in an observation home.
