CBI chief regrets rape analogy

A day after he made a rape analogy that caused outrage, CBI director Ranjit Sinha Wednesday expressed regret over his comment.

"I regret any hurt caused as the same was inadvertent and unintended," Sinha said, a day after he compared rape and betting in sports.

"I reiterate my deep sense of regard and respect for women, and commitment to gender issues," he told reporters.

Speaking here Tuesday in support of legalising betting, Sinha had said: "What is wrong if we legalise betting? Do we have the enforcement agencies (to stop betting)?

"If you cannot enforce the ban on betting, it is like if you can't prevent rape, you enjoy it."

The remark caused nationwide furore. On Wednesday, National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Mamata Sharma demanded his resignation.

"I am sorry to say that the head of an agency which is there for women's security is saying this. If he has said so, he should resign.

"We thought we had to sensitise people at lower levels, but this example shows that people at the higher levels also have to be sensitised," she said.

Political parties too were livid.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman called the comment "shocking".

"Wonder if his colleagues in the bureau, his family and well-wishers approve of his view," she asked.

Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India-Marxist said: "How can he even think of using such terms, this is absolutely outrageous."

Supreme Court lawyer Kamini Sharma said: "The CBI director should be asked to go, he has no business to talk like this".

Activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said: "The CBI director should issue a public apology."