Officers who led probe satisfied, say case will stand test of higher courts

NEW DELHI: Two Delhi Police officers who led the investigations in the December 16 gang rape case on Friday said they were happy with the death sentence.

One of them was for mer Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, who personally framed the chargesheet in the case and has now retired. He had courted much controversy over the handling of the protests in the aftermath of the case.

“I feel vindicated and happy,” said Kumar. “No matter how long it takes for the accused to hang, I have faith in the law of this and. The December 16 gang rape was a watershed case matched by an excellent and swift investigation.”

His subordinate Chhaya Sharma, the then deputy commissioner of police (south) and currently serving in Mizoram, also expressed her satisfaction with the verdict.

“All our efforts have been proved to be worthwhile,” she said.

“The road to the deliverance has been long and eventful. The most important thing was the faith of the affected family and my seniors in our ability to deliver against all odds,” Sharma added.

Asked if their case would standing the scrutiny of higher courts which, statistics show, usually do not hand out the death penalty, the duo said they were confident.

The two police officers said the case that saw the arrest of the accused in 72 hours, a never-before scientific investigation and forensic proof was fit enough to stand the scrutiny of a fast-track court because of its legal edge.

“I don’t think the hanging will take too much time,” said Kumar. He also said that the fast-track appeal of the matter will not be lost irrespective of where the case is being tried or by whom.”