Court allows in-camera trial

A special court on Tuesday allowed in-camera recording of the statement of Rajesh Choudhary (23),the accused who turned approver in the gangrape and murder case of software engineer Nayana Pujari.

Defence lawyer B A Aloor took strong objection to in-camera trial and demanded that proceedings be held in open court. He argued such a trial should only be conducted if the person whose statement is to be recorded is a victim.

However,submitting before the court that approvers statement be recorded in-camera under Section 327 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC),special public prosecutor Harshad Nimbalkar said that Choudharys statement is sensitive as it would reveal details of suspects.

Special judge Sadhana Shinde rejected the objections raised by defence lawyer and allowed in-camera recording of statement.

Pujari,who worked with a software company in Kharadi,was allegedly gangraped and murdered in October 2009. Her body wad found at Zarewadi forest area in Rajgurunagar. An offence was registered at Yerawada police station. Police had arrested Yogesh Raut,Rajesh Choudhary,Mahesh Thakur,and Vishal Kadam in the case.

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