Delhi rape: Did not pressurise SDM, says CP

New Delhi: Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar Tuesday strongly refuted the charges of police officers trying to pressurize the sub-divisional magistrate who was recording the statement of the gang-rape victim. Addressing a press conference here, Neeraj Kumar said Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Usha Chaturvedi was briefed by the police before recording the statement because she requested this. [caption id=“attachment_568859” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Protests over the Delhi rape. AP.[/caption] He also questioned why she recorded the statement if she found the atmosphere not right for it. “If the situation was not suitable for recording the statement, she should not have recorded it,” he said. “She made no complaint to us. Then all of a sudden, we were told a complaint was filed and a copy of the complaint was given to the media. It is very sad, because it can affect the investigation,” he said. He also said that the SDM had initially said she was busy and gave a time of 6 pm. “Later she said there was pressure and so she would now come at 5 p.m. She came to the Delhi Police headquarters, from where she was escorted (to the hospital) by ACP Vasant Vihar,” he said. Chaturvedi has complained that senior police officials tried to interfere when she recorded the 23-year-old rape victim’s statement. The complaint has been sent to the union home ministry, under whom the Delhi Police come, by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, recommending high-level probe. IANS