The counsel for accused Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur, in his final arguments before Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna alleged the probe in the case was "manipulated" and evidence was "planted" against his clients.
However, the proceedings were disrupted after the defence counsel, A P Singh, collapsed amidst arguments due to ill health.
"Investigation was manipulated. Evidence was planted. The conduct of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (who recorded the victim's first statement) and the Metropolitan Magistrate (who conducted pre-trial proceedings) was also affected due to manipulation," Singh said during his brief arguments.
The lawyer also questioned the priority given to this particular case by the Metropolitan Magistrate during the initial stage of the proceedings, "as hearings were held after normal court hours without any specific instruction from any judicial authority".
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Singh also alleged that evidences, like bloodstains, shoes of the victim's male friend recovered from Vinay's home, were "planted" in the case by the probe agency.
He said that forensic reports were prepared without analysis of the samples collected and were made to "suit" the demands of the prosecution due to the "political pressure" which was brought to bear upon the case.
Meanwhile, advocate Vivek Sharma, representing Pawan, moved an application through a colleague seeking time till September 2 to begin arguments.
However, the plea was rejected by the court.