The neighbours of one of the accused in the December 16 gang-rape case today claimed in a Delhi court that he was attending a music function with friends and was not in the bus in which a 23-year-old girl was gang-raped by six persons.

Two of the neighbours, appearing as defence witness for accused Vinay Sharma, told Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna that "the accused is innocent as he was with us at the time of the incident".

"We, along with them (Vinay and his family members), went to the district park to attend a musical programme," the witnesses said.

The police submitted that as per the horticulture department of DDA, which maintains the park, no such type of activities are held there after 7 pm and nor is anyone allowed inside the park after that time.