After rape victim's friend's allegations, MHA to probe how the bus plied on roads after being challaned for two years

NEW DELHI: An inquiry by the home ministry into the allegations leveled by the friend of the gang-rape victim will also ascertain how the bus in which the crime happened, continued to ply on roads even after being challaned several times by Delhi Police in the last two years.

The Terms of Reference of the said inquiry to be completed within seven days by joint secretary (police modernisation) Veena Kumari Meena also mention a probe into whether any cancellation of the registration of the bus and its confiscation could have been done and if not, then the reasons thereof.

As per the Delhi Traffic Police, the said bus had been challaned six times and impounded eight times in years 2011 and 2012. JCP (traffic) S Garg had made this disclosure on December 28 and said the main accused in the case, Ram Singh, was apprehended by the traffic police on July 21, 2012, doing exactly the same violation he did on the fateful day - picking up passengers unauthorisedly in the same Chartered bus.

"When the bus was hauled up before the court for these offences, the transporter Dinesh Yadav and driver Ram Singh were fined 2,200 for violations and vehicle was ordered to be released to Dinesh Yadav. Similarly, this vehicle was impounded on five more occasions for similar violations in 2011 and 2012 and each time fines of a few thousand were imposed on transporter and vehicle was released to the transporter," Garg had said on December 29.

He had said that vehicles that ply without a permit and pick up passengers unauthorisedly should not be returned to the violators.

"In view of the allegations raised by the eye-witness regarding late arrival and non-responsive behavior of PCR vans and other allegations as also the fact that the said bus continued to operate on the road even after being challaned several times by the Delhi Police, it has been decided that these issues be inquired into so as to ascertain the facts and fix accountability for any lapses," a home ministry statement said.