NEW DELHI - Fearing that crowds at the courtroom could disrupt the hearing, a Delhi court hearing the Dec 16 gang-rape case Monday ordered in camera proceedings in the case rather than in person, reported local media.  

The court's decision came after the police said the courtroom was too crowded to guarantee safety for the five accused in the horrifying Delhi gang rape, who were brought from jail to the court in a black police van.

Though the magistrate asked the people present in the court to make space for the accused, the police said the courtroom must be completely clear.

Crowds of people were gathering outside the Saket Court complex in South Delhi demanding justice for the victim of the gang rape.

Police filed a lawsuit against the five of the six persons involved in the gang rape, accusing them of murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, destruction of evidence and some other offenses.

The sixth person of the gang rape case, said to be a juvenile, is due to be brought to a juvenile court instead.