2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case | SC to decide on death penalty to four convicts; Timeline

The fate of four death row convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case would be decided on Friday as the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict on their appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan would deliver the judgement on Friday in the case that had shaken the entire nation's conscience.

The apex court had, on March 27, reserved its verdict on the appeal of four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- against the conviction and death penalty awarded to them by the high court on March 13, 2014. 

Read | 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape case: SC likely to decide today on pleas of 4 convicts who challenged death penalty awarded by HC

Here's the timeline of entire case: 

#December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.

#March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.

#August 31, 2013:  Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to 3 years in Special Home.

#January 29, 2013: Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.

#September 13, 2013: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.

#March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.

#March 15, 2014: Supreme Court stays the execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.

#December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the minor accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.

#April 3, 2016: Nirbhaya hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.

#April 8, 2016: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae.

#July 11, 2016: Nirbhaya hearing begins with a change in Bench. Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan to preside.

#August 1, 2016: An interesting hearing takes place in courtroom 4.

#August 29, 2016: High drama in the courtroom as allegations of police tampering with evidence are made; M L Sharma breaks down.

#September 2, 2016: Advocate M L Sharma concludes his submissions.

#September 16, 2016: Former DCP (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case attends the hearing

#November 7, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions in Court, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.

#November 28, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against the reliability of evidence in the case.

#January 6, 2017: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.

#February 3, 3017: Supreme Court decides to rehear the case on the sentencing aspect after the petitioners contend that there have been violations of the procedure.

#March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits to the Court.

#March 27, 2017: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

Read | Nirbhaya fund: Mere 16 per cent of grant used in 3 three years since inception