Uber cabbie faces fast-track rape trial in India

Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, will go on trial on charges of rape, kidnap and criminal intimidation on Thursday


Afp January 13, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: An Uber taxi driver accused of raping a woman passenger in New Delhi will go on trial in a fast-track court this week after entering a not guilty plea Tuesday.

Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, will go on trial on charges of rape, kidnap and criminal intimidation on Thursday, less than six weeks after the alleged attack on his passenger as she returned home from dinner with friends.

India's legal system is usually notoriously sluggish and rape victims can often wait years for justice.

But the authorities set up a series of special courts two years ago in the wake of a fatal gang-rape of a medical student on a bus in New Delhi which triggered mass protests.

The alleged attack in the taxi on December 5 again raised the issue of women's safety in Delhi, which has been dubbed India's "rape capital" after a string of high-profile sex assaults.

During Tuesday's hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja, police told the court that they plan to field at least 44 prosecution witnesses and produce forensic evidence to bolster their case.

Uber was banned from operating in Delhi after the attack, with authorities accusing the web-based firm of failing to perform adequate background checks.

COMMENTS (2)

ITr | 9 years ago | Reply

hey no, subramannian swamy will vigorously defend pure mata indian in courts, how dare dey try and make this into trial for pure 1 billion indians. Indian can never do such a thing, india is da cleanest.

Owen Abrey | 9 years ago | Reply

How are you raising your children O India? Are you showing your children love and respect of your wives? Or are they beneath you to be trampled on? How are you raising your students? Do you teach your students the value and respect of their female classmates? Until your wives and your girls are lifted up and honored, this will plague you.

Do you do this now? Do your female people enjoy respect and honor?

For shame. Apparently not enough.

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