Dec 16 gang-rape verdict expected by May end

With the trial in the Delhi gang-rape case "almost 90 percent complete", the court verdict is expected to come by the end of May, Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar said.

In an interview to Rajat Sharma on the show "Aap Ki Adalat" on India TV, Neeraj Kumar said: "The trial of December 16 (2012) case is almost 90 per cent complete and judgment is expected by the end of May."

On Dec 16, 2012, a 23-year-old woman was brutally raped and tortured by a gang of six people on a moving bus. She died a few days later of grievous injuries.

The male friend of the victim, who too was attacked and severely injured, in an interview had criticised the police for their "inaction" in the case.

The police commissioner dismissed allegations that policemen had offered a bribe of Rs.2,000 to the parents of a five-year-old-girl in east Delhi, another rape victim in the city, in April to hush up the matter.

"A report was promptly registered by the women help desk after which a case was lodged. I admit the follow-up action was not up to the mark for which we suspended the SHO (station house officer) and IO (investigative officer) in the case," he said.

There was no question of hushing up the case as NGOs were informed about the incident and media was also present there, he added.

Speaking of capital punishment for rapists, Neeraj Kumar said: "Many criminals have been hanged for murders and terrorism but has this brought an end to such crimes? The law punishes criminals but if we start assuming that this will stop crimes, this will not be correct."

The commissioner again said that his stepping down would not serve any purpose.

"I am not among those who run away. I am the leader of the force and till the time the government has trust in me, I shall continue to lead," he said.

According to Neeraj Kumar, in the wake of the recent crimes against women, the police have taken a slew of measures to make women feel safe in the capital.

"One such step is setting up of women help desks at police stations which are functional round the clock where females can register their complaints," he said.

"There is a 158 percent increase in rape case registration, 600 percent in molestation cases and 700 percent in eve-teasing cases. These are not indicative of a rise in crimes but it shows women are now confident about going to police stations where a woman officer hears them and registers their complaints."