Home Minister admits 'major lapse' caused Ram Singh's death

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has admitted that a security lapse was responsible for the death of Delhi gangrape accused Ram Singh this morning.

‘I agree that Ram Singh’s death is a major lapse’, he told media during a press briefing in Delhi.

The Home Minister added that a preliminary report into the death suggested that Singh had committed suicide but added that a magisterial inquiry would also be conducted. Home Secretary RPN Singh has also asked the jail for a report.

In its official reaction after the incident, Tihar officials said it was too early to comment.

“We have submitted the report providing details about the incident. Inquiry is on, so it would be premature to comment. All facts will be looked into by the Magistrate”, said Vimla Mehra, DG, Tihar jail said in the statement.

Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide early this morning, using his clothes to hang himself. However his lawyers and family are insisting that he was murdered and are demanding an independent probe.

His layer VK Anand said that mentally his client had shown no signs of depression, while his father said that there was no way he could have hung himself considering that he had no mobility in his right arm due to injuries sustained in a road accident in 2009.