Court rejects Uber cab driver plea to recall witnesses

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Rape-accused Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav's application seeking to recall 28 prosecution witnesses in the case for further cross examination was rejected by a court here Wednesday as an attempt to "delay the proceedings".

"The application under consideration is thus nothing but an attempt to protract the trial," said Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja.

She said that there was no change in circumstances except change of counsel.

Yadav's defence counsel Dharmendra Mishra has submitted that the lawyer who was previously associated with him was not compete enough to defend him.

He has requested court to recall witnesses for certain clarifications, which was opposed by Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava saying that defence is trying to delay the trial in the case.

Meanwhile the court will hear final arguments in the case Thursday.

The prosecution Jan 31 completed recording of evidence in just 17 days.

According to police, the woman executive was allegedly raped by 32-year-old Yadav inside his cab on the night of Dec 5, 2014.

The court Jan 13 framed charges of rape and causing grievous bodily harm and endangering the life of a woman, kidnapping a woman, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt against Yadav under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.