Danish tourist's rape: Police custody of five accused extended

A Delhi court Monday extended till Jan 23 the police custody of five men arrested on suspicion of being involved in the Jan 14 gang rape of a 51-year-old Danish tourist near the New Delhi Railway Station. The court also asked the police to take the victim's help in the investigation.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sudhanshu Kaushik extended the remand after the police told the court their custody was required to trace the other two accused.

Police informed the court the arrested men know the hideouts of the remaining two and their interrogation would help in tracing them. Police said as per information, the two are hiding in Haridwar.

The magistrate allowed the Delhi Police to quiz them and find out the whereabouts of the other two accused.

Arjun, Raju alias Chhakka, Mohd Raja, Mahendra alias Ganja, Raju alias Bajji, and a minor have been booked by police for raping the tourist at knife-point.

The victim Jan 14 lost her way and near the New Delhi Railway Station, sought directions to her Paharganj hotel when the men led her to an isolated spot near the Divisional Railway Officers' Club and assaulted her.

Police said all the accused were vagabonds who first stole the woman's belongings and then raped her.

Police said the woman left for Denmark last week. Her medical examination, conducted in Denmark, has confirmed rape. There are severe injury marks on her body.

The court asked the police to make arrangements for the woman to be involved in the probe and help the investigating team in identifying the accused.

"Think out of the box, every case requires different type of investigation," the court said, referring to it as a different type of case.

"The woman can be asked to appear via video conferencing to identify the accused," the court said.

Police said they were planning to send a letter to the woman for joining the probe through the Danish embassy or a team could be sent to meet her.

"As the case is sensitive in nature, we are trying to file the chargesheet in this case within 20 days," police said.

The court said there was no need to hurry in filing the chargesheet and told police to conduct an effective probe.