After controversy erupted over recording of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim’s statement, her fresh testimony was on Tuesday taken by a metropolitan magistrate, police said.
“A fresh statement of the girl has been recorded by the metropolitan magistrate,” a senior police official said.
Controversy erupted over the recording of the victim’s statement after Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit complained to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde that senior police officials “interfered” in the process and sought an inquiry.
In a letter to Mr. Shinde, Ms. Dikshit cited a communication to her by Deputy Commissioner (East) B.M. Mishra that Sub Divisional Magistrate Usha Chaturvedi claimed that three senior police officers had prevented the video recording of the victim’s statement. It was also alleged that the police officers wanted the SDM to use a questionnaire they prepared.
It later turned out to be an open war between Ms. Dikshit and the Delhi Police, who demanded a probe into the “leakage” of her letter to the Home Minister.
Delhi Police came out with a strong denial and also demanded a high-level probe into the “leakage” of Ms. Dikshit’s letter to Mr. Shinde.
“We deny the allegations levelled by SDM Usha Chaturvedi.
“Delhi Police demands a high-level inquiry into the leakage of a top-secret letter written by the Chief Minister to media,” Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Ouch. Look at the way that large police woman is pinching the
protester's arm? Surely that is serving no purpose in helping drag her
away, and is the reason behind that expression of pain on her face. Just
sad..
Is it not strange the Chief Minister of the Capital is behaving like a toothless tigress. What should have been resolved through discussions over the phone or in person has been spilled out over the media and much ado is being made over nothing. The police who are already a harrassed lot would naturally have been anxious that no action detrimental to the mental composure of the victim should take place while recording the statement. If the victim succumbs to the injuries the police again would bear the brunt of the attack from the citizens blaming them for insensitivity to a victim's condition. The Chief Minister it is regretted has not risen to the occasion and seems to be more keen to score brownie points over the Lt.Governor and Police the same way she behaved after the CWG fiasco. Her leadership qualities are certainly under the scanner and she should make way for a more competent personality capable of handling the complicated affairs of the capital which should be a model state.
If the Delhi police had indeed prevented the recording of the victim's statement and wanted a prepared questionnaire to be used by the SDM as alleged,it not only smacks of highhandedness but also an attempt to scuttle the investigation and cover up the rape charge against the accused.It is very strange that the police have not responded to0 this charge of scuttling but are harping only on leakage of a top secret letter written by the Delhi CM to the media.
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