The case of five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi has been moved to a fast-track court for trial.
This comes even as the prime accused has decided to move the Supreme Court, seeking transfer of the case from Delhi.
Lawyers for the defendants say that the case will get under way on Monday.
A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, will be tried separately in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.
The case has shocked India and sparked a debate about the treatment of women. If convicted, the men could face the death penalty.
In the wake of the public outcry, the government promised a fast-track legal process for this and other rape crimes.
But the lawyer for one of the defendants said he will file a petition arguing for the case to be transferred out of Delhi, fearing that the proceedings might be prejudiced.
The victim, who cannot be named in India for legal reasons, and a male friend were attacked on a bus in south Delhi. She died two weeks later in a hospital in Singapore.
Campaigners are calling for tougher rape laws and reforms to the police, who – critics say – often fail to file charges against accused attackers.
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