Delhi cop arrested on rape charge sacked; AAP attacks police chief

A sub-inspector was arrested and dismissed from service for allegedly raping a 23-year-old domestic help at gun point, an incident which evoked strong reactions from political parties here with AAP demanding resignation of Delhi Police chief B S Bassi.

ASI Jaiveer Singh, who was posted at Punjabi Bagh police station, had allegedly raped the woman under influence of liquor at the house of an acquaintance in Rani Bagh area of North West Delhi on late Thursday night.

Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said, "The ASI has been dismissed under Article 311(2)(B)."

The victim had approached the police on Friday and an FIR was registered following which the ASI was arrested. The policeman was yesterday produced in a court, which remanded him to a 14-day judicial custody. The medical examination of the girl confirmed rape.

A CCTV footage has also surfaced which shows Singh carrying a gun. It is alleged that the rape was committed at gunpoint.

Singh's acquaintance, at whose residence the rape took place, is a businessman with criminal cases against him. The two became friends as Singh often visited the businessman's place in this connection.

The incident not only left Delhi police red faced but also gave ammunition to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party which demanded the resignation of Police Commissioner Bassi for the "crumbling" law and order in the city.

"On one hand, they (police) are indulging in arresting AAP men and on the other hand their men are involved in heinous crimes. I think Bassi sahab should resign," AAP leader Ashish Khetan said.

Since it came to power, AAP has been at loggerheads with Delhi police, accusing the force of working at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.

The wrangling has only intensified with the arrest of former Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar and Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar over charges of cheating and forgery.

The rape victim had approached police on Friday and an FIR was registered following which the ASI was arrested. The SI was yesterday produced before a court, which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody.

Both BJP and Congress termed the incident as "shocking" and demanded strictest punishment for the guilty.

Khetan said people had expected "pro-active" action from police following the December 2012 gang-rape but the situation has only "deteriorated".

"The police and the commissioner have no accountability. This is the national capital. Not Bastar or a backward area of Jharkhand or Chhattisgarh," he said.

Other political parties and women's rights groups demanded exemplary punishment for the accused, which they said would deter others from repeating such crimes.

"If a Delhi police personnel does this then its clear that the assurances given by the government to maintain law and order and security is being openly flouted," senior CPM leader Brinda Karat said.

DCW Chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh said, "It is most unfortunate for a country when its saviours who are supposed to safeguard women's dignity, rob them off their honour."

Earlier, Bassi asserted that any police official indulging in transgression of law will not be spared and assured an impartial inquiry based on evidence and "without any prejudice or agenda".

He said police will work to ensure that a chargesheet is filed at the earliest and the accused is convicted.

"He will not be spared and we need not be told (this) by anybody. This is our determination... we are determined to take strictest possible action against any police officer who indulges in transgression of law," he said.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari demanded that the punishment should be so strict that "a message goes out to the society".