Don't give bail to repeat offenders: Uber rape victim's father

As the rapist Uber driver got life imprisonment till death on Tuesday, the victim's family expressed satisfaction but said repeat offenders must never get bail for such crime.

"I am highly satisfied with the verdict of the sessions court that sentenced the driver to life imprisonment within 10 months of the start of hearing," the father of the rape victim told IANS.

Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav raped a woman executive on December 5 last year.

The father, in his mid-50's, told IANS: "He deserves nothing less than life imprisonment.

"He was a repeat offender and was involved in seven criminal cases, including under Arms Act, Goonda Act and rape. Such repeat offenders should not be given bail."

The father -- who did not want his name to be disclosed -- said if the driver had not been bailed for his earlier crimes, his daughter, his only child, would not have been raped by Yadav.

"People like him take advantage of our law with the help of lawyers and get bail.

"After getting bail, they indulge in crime again as they know how to tackle the law."

The father said he and other family members had decided not to discuss the December rape ever again with their daughter.

"I do not even want to share the news of the driver's life term with her. If she learns about it through news, it's another matter," he said.

He said he tried to keep his daughter away from the court proceedings, and visited the court on every hearing himself.

"A few days after the incident, I sent her out of country. I never discussed the court proceedings with her."

Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma, who was heading the case from the beginning, too expressed his happiness over the verdict. "Finally justice has been delivered.

"It's symbolic justice, and it will put fear into the heart of such criminals," Verma told IANS.

"The positive point of the case was that not even one witness turned hostile."

He said initially there was not much support from Uber as their support system was based in the US.

"But later they helped the probe by providing necessary inputs such as the routes taken by the driver."

Uber welcomed Tuesday's sentencing.

"Sexual assault is a terrible crime and we're pleased he has now been brought to justice," an Uber statement shared with IANS said.

"Safety is a priority for Uber, and we've made many improvements -- in terms of new technology, enhanced background checks and better 24/7 customer support -- as a result of the lessons we learned from this awful case."

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)