Delhi gang-rape: Metropolitan magistrate records victim`s fresh statement

After controversy erupted over recording of gangrape victim`s statement, her fresh testimony was on Tuesday taken by the metropolitan magistrate.

New Delhi: After controversy erupted over recording of the 23-year-old gangrape victim`s statement, her fresh testimony was on Tuesday taken by the metropolitan magistrate, police said. "A fresh statement of the girl has been recorded by the metropolitan magistrate," a senior police official said. Controversy erupted over the recording of the victim`s statement after Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit complained to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde that senior police officials "interfered" in the process and sought an enquiry. In a letter to Shinde, Dikshit cited a communication to her by Deputy Commissioner (East) BM Mishra that Sub Divisional Magistrate Usha Chaturvedi claimed that three senior police officers had prevented the video recording of the victim`s statement. It was also alleged that the police officers wanted the SDM to use a questionnaire they prepared. It later turned out to be an open war between Dikshit and Delhi Police, who demanded a probe into the "leakage" of her letter to the home minister. Delhi Police came out with a strong denial and also demanded a high-level probe into the "leakage" of Dikshit`s letter to Shinde.

"We deny the allegations levelled by SDM Usha Chaturvedi. "Delhi Police demands a high-level inquiry into the leakage of a top-secret letter written by the Chief Minister to media," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said. PTI