Court records statement of Uber Asia's head

A court here Friday recorded the statement of Uber Asia's business head Eric Alexander in a rape case against a cab driver working with the company.

Testifying as a prosecution witness in the case, Alexander told Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja that accused Shiv Kumar Yadav was the driver and operating the Maruti Swift Dzire car for his company.

According to police, a woman executive was allegedly raped by Yadav inside the car. It also added that the accused driver had gone off the route, and placed on record the route map of his cab.

Alexander told court that the cab was booked by the woman's friend on the date of incident. He also identified the driver.

He explained the route map used by the driver during his journey Dec 5.

The investigation officer, Sub-inspector Renu told court that the cab driver had removed his muffler by himself and declined the suggestion by defence counsel that she had uncovered his face.

Renu added that she did not try to muffle Yadav again as accused had refused to participate in test identification parade.

She told court that on the basis of evidence collected during the investigation and discussion with senior officials, she added two more charges of the Indian Penal Code in the case.

The sub-inspector told court that Sections 376(2)(m) (while committing rape causing grievous bodily harm or endangering life of a woman) was added as the accused tried to strangulate the woman while committing offence and Section 366 (kidnapping or abducting woman) was added as he diverted the route and took her to a isolated place.

The trial in the rape case is being conducted on a day-to-day basis and will be continued Saturday.

The court Jan 13 framed charges of rape and causing grievous bodily harm or endangering the life of a woman, kidnapping a woman, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against Yadav.