Police chief writes to Shinde, denies CM’s charges

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Wednesday wrote to the Home Ministry refuting Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's allegation that police tried to interfere with a magistrate while she was recording the statement of the 23-year-old rape victim.

In his letter, Kumar denied that police had forced a questionnaire on the Sub Divisional Magistrate who recorded the statement of the victim and refused its videography.

Dikshit had on Monday shot off a letter to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde citing a communication to her by Deputy Commissioner (East) B M Mishra that SDM Usha Chaturvedi had complained that senior police officers interfered while she was recording the statement of the victim.

The Delhi Cabinet, too, met on Wednesday and backed the decision of SDM Chaturvedi to complain that senior police officers interfered when she was recording the victim's statement.

A source said all ministers unanimously condemned police interference and supported Dikshit's move to write to the Home Ministry.

"Everyone was of the view that a Sub Divisional Magistrate knows his or her job the best. Everyone felt any interference from police should have been reported to the Home Ministry," the source said.

A police source said Kumar has informed the Home Ministry that it was police who insisted that the statement of the woman be recorded, as her condition was getting worse every passing day.

Kumar also said investigation was the job of police, and it was doing its best to get justice for the victim. The Home Ministry on Wednesday said it has decided to take "immediate (and) appropriate action" on the controversy.

"The Home Ministry has received Chief Minister's complaint letter, and a letter from Police Commissioner refuting the charges. The Ministry has taken note of the letters and decided to take immediate appropriate action," an official said.

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