Delhi gang-rape: Why has the Police Commissioner not put to task, asks HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today took strong exception that only a junior police officer was suspended in connection with the gangrape of a 23-year-old student here and senior cops, including the Police Commissioner, have not been made accountable.

"Why only ACP, why not DCP, why not the Commissioner have been put to task?" a bench headed by Chief Justice D Murugesan said while expressing its anguish over the non-disclosure of the names of policemen who were patrolling the areas where the girl was raped in a moving bus on December 16.

The court also warned the city police that it cannot be blamed for any "consequential order".

"We had directed you to give the names of the officials posted on relevant PCR vans and the areas concerned. Today also, we are not convinced (from the status report) because the names of the officials have not been given. You (police) don't blame the court then. We will pronounce the order tomorrow," a bench, also comprising Justice V K Jain, said.

The bench said "sufficient" opportunities have been given but the names of the cops have not been provided.

On being told that there are 67 PCR vans deployed in South district, the bench said "we are not concerned about those 67 PCR vans and we are concerned about the three PCR vans and the police officials.. where is the report on this?"

Dayan Krishnan, the counsel for police, said there were two PCR vans close to the site and it cannot be said that the bus, in which offence took place, pass through them.

"Earlier, it was said that there were three PCR vans, now you are saying there were two PCR vans," the bench said, adding that as the chargesheet has been filed, it would not monitor the case.

The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the gang-rape and had pulled up the police asking as to how the offence remained undetected.