Delhi Bus Gang Rape: Charges Framed Against Driver and Conductor
A fast-track court has framed charges against a bus driver and conductor for the gang rape of a minor in a moving bus.
In a significant development regarding the horrific bus gang rape case, a fast-track court at Tis Hazari has officially framed charges against the accused driver and conductor. The legal proceedings, which involve the brutal sexual assault of a minor in a moving vehicle, are set to move into the trial phase starting October 24.
Legal Charges and Court Proceedings
Special Judge (POCSO) Sonam Gupta, presiding over the matter in a closed courtroom on Wednesday, found sufficient material to frame charges against the two accused, identified as Kuldeep and Sandeep. The charges are severe, encompassing offences related to rape, the kidnapping of a minor, and multiple violations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The court has scheduled the matter for prosecution evidence beginning October 24. This follows the Delhi Police filing a comprehensive 400-page charge sheet on September 18, which includes statements from 50 prosecution witnesses and detailed forensic findings.
Scientific Evidence Links Accused to Crime
The investigation has been bolstered by strong scientific evidence. According to the police, DNA samples from the two accused matched samples recovered from the victim's clothing and the bus itself. Forensic reports from the laboratory, which analyzed hair strands and semen, have conclusively established that the sexual assault took place.
The charge sheet includes several serious sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act, specifically:
- Section 70(2) of BNS: Gang rape of a female under the age of 18.
- Section 87 of BNS: Kidnapping of a woman for illicit intercourse.
- Section 127(2) of BNS: Wrongful confinement.
- Section 137(2) of BNS: Kidnapping.
- Section 3(5) of BNS: Acts committed with common intention.
- Sections 5(g) and 6 of POCSO: Penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor.
The Horrific Incident Details
The incident, which came to light in late August, involved a minor who had boarded a bus traveling from Mainpuri towards Delhi. The victim boarded the vehicle from Greater Noida, and the bus reportedly traveled approximately 47 kilometres before the ordeal concluded near ISBT Kashmiri Gate, where the victim was thrown off the moving bus.
Following the incident, an FIR was registered at the Kashmir Gate (Metro) Police Station based on the victim's own complaint. The bus was later located by a police team in a parking lot in Timar Pur, leading to the arrest of both the driver and the conductor.