Uber cab rape case: Prosecution evidence closed in 17 days

New Delhi, Jan 31: Prosecution on Saturday completed recording of evidence in the Uber cab rape case as part of the fast-track trial in a Delhi court, taking just 17 days.

The prosecution closed the evidence with the recording of statement of investigating officer of the case, Delhi Police Sub Inspector Renu. The prosecution, which had cited 44 witnesses in the charge sheet, examined 28 of them, dropping 16 saying they were not relevant.

Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had started the trial on January 15, fixed February three to record the statement of the accused driver, 32-year-old Shiv Kumar Yadav.

"Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava states that all the relevant prosecution witnesses have been examined and no other witness is left to be examined. "Accordingly, prosecution evidence is closed. Put up the matter for February 3, 2015 for recording of statement of the accused," the judge said.

During the hearing, the IO in her cross examination by Yadav's counsel Aalok Dwivedi denied his suggestion that she has not probed the case properly and fairly.

The officer deposed that sections 376(2)(m) (endangering a woman's life while raping her) of the IPC was added in the case on December 23, 2014 on the basis of victim's statement that Yadav had tried to strangulate her and thereby endangered her life while committing rape.

The police officer also denied suggestions like that the entire story of the prosecution was concocted or she was deposing falsely in the court.

PTI