New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS): A Delhi court Friday directed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to preserve the CCTV footage of two metro stations on the pleas of two brothers accused in a constable's death.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ambika Singh said: "Since the IO (investigating officer) has already taken steps for preserving the CCTV footage, there is no harm if it is preserved to serve the ends of justice."

Singh directed the IO to preserve the CCTV footage of Rithala and Rajiv Chowk metro stations for Dec 23.

Earlier in the day, filing its report on the pleas of the two accused in a Delhi Police constable's death, Delhi Metro said its CCTV footage can be preserved for seven days only, after which it is erased automatically.

"Available footage of CCTV cameras at Rithala and Rajiv Chowk Metro stations for Dec 23 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. has been preserved and is available for investigation by the police. The CCTV footage will be made available to the court/investigation agencies, whenever required," the status report of DRMC said.

"CCTV footage is preserved in the system for seven days only. After that it is automatically erased by the system. As per DMRC policy, CCTV footage is provided to investigation agencies or on court orders only," it added.

Appearing for petitioners Kailash Joshi and Amit Joshi, advocate Somnath Bharti has asked the court to direct DMRC to preserve the footage.

The court Thursday sought responses from the Crime Branch and DMRC on the pleas of brothers Kailash Joshi and Amit Joshi, who were arrested Dec 23 after a violent protest at India Gate against the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman.

Delhi Police Constable Subhash Chand Tomar was injured during the protests. He died Dec 25.

The two moved the court saying they were in a metro train Dec 23 when the incident happened, and the CCTV footage of Rithala and Rajiv Chowk stations should be preserved to allow them to provide evidence.

The Crime Branch told the court that investigation of the case was in its initial stage and sought directions for Kailash and Amit to join the probe so that "their route and the way adopted by them during the metro journey could be ascertained by early scrutiny of CCTV footage".

It further sought a week to file its status report after scrutinising the CCTV footage.

Besides the brothers, Nafees, Shankar Bisht, Nand Kumar, Shantanu Kumar, Abhishek and Chaman Kumar have been named as accused for allegedly taking part in the protest in which Tomar, 47, was injured.

The court had granted bail to all the accused Dec 24.

After Tomar's death, they were booked for murder and the probe was handed over to the Crime Branch.