Rape case against ex-min: Court asks cops to expedite probe

A special court today directed Delhi Police to expeditiously complete the probe in a rape case in which sacked Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar is the accused.
The court was informed by the investigating officer (IO), who filed a status report in the case, that the police were awaiting sanction to prosecute the accused, besides the forensic science laboratory report.
"In view of the submissions, the IO is directed to expedite the process," Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry said.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Kumar for a direction to the police to file a status report on the probe in the rape case against him.

During the hearing, Kumar's counsel said the police have been sitting over the FIR for the last seven months and they should inform the court as to when they have sent the file for seeking sanction to prosecute the accused and how much time will it take to complete the probe.
The prosecutor and the IO told the court that the process of sanction will take time and they have already sent a request to the competent authority.

The IO said the police also want to close the case as early as possible to reduce the pendency.
Kumar, who is out on bail, had said in his plea that due to the case he has suffered a lot and that there has been an "inordinate" and "unwarranted" delay in filing of the charge sheet, causing prejudice to him.

Kumar, who was arrested on September 3 last year, was granted bail by the court on November 7, 2016.
He was arrested after a woman had lodged a complaint at Sultanpuri Police Station in north Delhi alleging sexual harassment by the former social welfare and women and child development minister.
The woman had allegedly figured in an objectionable video with him.
The MLA from Sultanpur Majra was removed from the AAP government and the party on August 31 after the CD surfaced. Kumar has claimed he has been targeted.