Uber cab driver gets jail for life, rape victim's father 'satisfied'

Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav was convicted last month on charges of rape, causing grievous bodily harm and endangering the life of the woman.

New Delhi: Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav who raped a 25-year-old woman executive on December 5 last year was on Tuesday sentenced by a court here to life in prison till death.

Expressing satisfaction over the judgement, the victim's father said, "We are highly satisfied because he got the maximum sentence provided under law. It could not have been better for us."

The father, in his mid-50's, told IANS: "He deserves nothing less than life imprisonment.

"He was a repeat offender and was involved in seven criminal cases, including under Arms Act, Goonda Act and rape. Such repeat offenders should not be given bail."

The father -- who did not want his name to be disclosed -- said if the driver had not been bailed for his earlier crimes, his daughter, his only child, would not have been raped by Yadav.

"People like him take advantage of our law with the help of lawyers and get bail.

"After getting bail, they indulge in crime again as they know how to tackle the law."

The jail term came as a shock to Yadav's family members including father, wife and minor daughters who began crying inconsolably the moment it was announced by the judge.

Yadav's wailing wife fainted twice inside the court room after pronouncement of the order and was brought back to consciousness by advocates present.

Yadav, who was unable to console his family members, also cried as he sat with his hands tightly clutched by policemen.

After hearing the arguments on sentence for an hour-and-a half, the judge pronounced the sentence to Yadav, who sat through the proceedings patiently, in the packed court room.

Yadav was convicted last month on charges of rape, causing grievous bodily harm and endangering the life of the woman, and other charges dealing with kidnapping, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt.

Police said the woman executive was raped by Yadav on the night of December 5, 2014, in the cab she hired to head back home in north Delhi's Inderlok area. Yadav drove the woman to an isolated place and raped her.